WORLD Wide Fund for Nature-Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia) is ecstatic that Budget 2020 fulfils its biggest wish: to help save Malayan tigers, of which fewer than 200 roam the wild.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, when tabling the budget in Parliament on Friday, said the government will allocate RM48 million to preserve the country’s forests and natural biodiversity.

Of the sum, RM10 million will be utilised as a matching grant against private sector contributions towards conservation and biodiversity efforts.

“It is right that the protection of this species is made a national priority before we lose them to extinction,” said WWF-Malaysia today.

“These magnificent animals call the natural forests within the central forest spine (CFS) their home; the same forests where our water originates from. These forests also protect the nation against major devastation from floods during torrential downpours.

“The allocation of RM48 million to support the CFS and Heart of Borneo (HoB) initiatives, as well as restore degraded forests, is a much-needed addition to conservation efforts.

“We are thankful to the government for the continued budget for HoB in 2020… Malaysia is showing continuous commitment to sustainable development and conservation within HoB.”

The group said it hopes the allocation will be used to promote conservation works within HoB, especially to protect water catchment areas in Sabah and Sarawak.

It expressed delight that major steps are being taken to curb wildlife crimes, including a RM20 million allocation to employ rangers from among Orang Asli and retired soldiers to patrol forests.

“The decision to appoint Orang Asli as rangers is a good step.”

Budget 2020 also sets aside RM15 million for the Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers and Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, as well as other civil groups, for their work to protect tigers and orangutans in the country.

Another RM20 million has been allocated for the protection of flora and fauna.

WWF-Malaysia lauded Putrajaya’s move to commit RM10 million to a joint government-United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) fund, which will help finance SDG initiatives in Malaysia, as well as RM5 million to support Parliamentary Select Committee meetings and encourage engagement between MPs and civil groups to address SDG-related matters.

“Formal government action on SDGs has yet to be mainstreamed at the level of local constituencies.

“This allocation will boost efforts to address grassroots issues using SDGs, incorporating economic, social, environmental, human rights and good governance aspirations, with the theme of ‘leaving no one behind’.” – October 13, 2019.