THE public finds it hard to accept the statement issued by Kelantan Forestry Department director Abdul Khalim Abu Samah that logging helps to increase tiger population.

We at the Sustainable Malaysia Association are disappointed with the department’s handling of widespread deforestation and its effort (or the lack of) in wildlife conservation.

Tiger population in the country in 2014 was estimated at between 250 and 400, according to data from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan), World Wildlife Fund, Wildlife Conservation Society and Persatuan Penyelidik Rimba Malaysia.

The latest Perhilitan estimation reveals that there are fewer than 200 tigers in Malaysia today.

The Forestry Department’s own statistic shows that the forest area in the country has decreased from 5.81 million ha in 2011 to 5.69 million ha by 2020.

These two data sets suggest that the tiger population has drastically decreased due to deforestation.

The incident on January 7 of a tiger attacking villager in Gua Musang, Kelantan is highly likely due to the animal’s habitat being disturbed.

It is unfortunate that the Kelantan deputy menteri besar continues to deny the impact of widespread logging in the state on the tiger population.

The Kelantan government should stop deforestation and put in real effort in wildlife conservation. – January 26, 2022.

* Wong Yi Hao is a committee member of Sustainable Malaysia Association.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.