Gerik, 4 August 2024 – The annual joint observance of Global Tiger Day and World Ranger Day, hosted by the Perak State Parks Corporation (PSPC) and Persatuan Pelindung Harimau Malaysia (RIMAU) at the Royal Belum State Park (RBSP), spotlights the critical contributions of local communities and the effectiveness of collaborative conservation efforts in safeguarding the Malayan Tiger and its natural habitat.
This year’s celebration was attended by key figures including Datuk Dr Ching Thoo A/L Kim, Secretary General of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), alongside representatives from various organisations committed to wildlife conservation. The celebration also featured the launch of ‘Rumah Baca’ in Kampung Tanhain.
Datuk Dr Ching emphasised the significance of joint efforts, “When government, non-profits, and local communities pull together, we see real progress in our fight to protect the Malayan Tiger. This initiative at Royal Belum reflects Malaysia whole-of-society approach towards the protection of our biodiversity which is crucial not only for the tiger’s survival, but for the health of our entire ecosystem.”
The critically endangered Malayan Tiger native to the Malay Peninsula is at a conservation crossroads, with its wild population dwindling to fewer than 150 individuals. Intensified efforts to counter poaching and habitat loss are crucial. Lau Ching Fong, Acting Director of PSPC, highlighted the broad support fuelling these efforts.
“Global Tiger Day reinforces our shared duty to protect the Malayan Tiger from the brink of extinction. Through multi-support partnerships with government agencies, especially the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Royal Malaysian Police, Forestry Department, and the Islamic Religious Council & Perak Malay Custom (MAIPk) as well as organisations like RIMAU, Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD), Yayasan Hasanah, Amanah Lestari Alam (ALAM), WWF-Malaysia, and local communities, we aim to conserve these tigers through concerted efforts including anti-poaching patrolling, research, education and awareness, community engagement, and habitat management. These coordinated efforts are vital for the conservation of tigers in this landscape, which in turn will ensure the integrity of our ecosystems.”
For the third consecutive year, YSD has been a key supporter of the Global Tiger Day and World Ranger Day celebrations in Royal Belum, a vital hub for Malaysia’s tiger conservation. Dr Yatela Zainal Abidin, CEO of YSD, commented on the foundation’s involvement and the need to expand collaborative efforts.
“Since 2017, YSD’s collaboration with PSPC has focused on critical anti-poaching initiatives and boosting local community engagement within the state park. This effort naturally extended to include RIMAU, strengthening the Jahai community’s role as custodians of their land through our Menraq initiative. Our educational programmes in Sungai Kejar with RIMAU aims to inspire a conservation-minded generation dedicated to the future of the Malayan Tiger. This year, we are determined to catalyse substantial, ground- and policy-level changes by encouraging more allies to join this crucial mission to preserve our wildlife and its habitat.”
Established in 2018, RIMAU has been pivotal in conserving the Malayan Tiger by mobilising local indigenous communities for patrolling three key habitats, RBSP, Amanjaya Forest Reserve, and Korbu Forest Reserve. “The biggest threat to the Malayan Tiger is poaching. The tiger is in high demand for every part of its being. We need to ensure all tiger habitats are protected from poachers to ensure their survival,” said Lara Ariffin, President of RIMAU.
RIMAU’s holistic approach also includes community engagement through educational programmes. “We provide basic literacy to children, train local teachers, and involve Jahai youth in conservation efforts through our Menraq Junior Programme that is being supported by YSD in Sungai Kejar. This integrated strategy not only protects the Malayan Tiger but also empowers local communities.”
Building upon YSD’s foundational support towards RIMAU to enhance educational opportunities within the state park with a matching grant from the Ministry of Finance, RIMAU has expanded its educational outreach in collaboration with PSPC, WWF-Malaysia, and a five-year EU, ALAM, and MAIPk grant. This collaboration supports the ‘Rumah Baca’ programmes, providing education to 100 Jahai children in five villages within Sungai Kejar, as well as capacity-building of indigenous teachers and Menraq patrollers, crucial for long-term conservation success.
Complementing the existing tiger conservation and Jahai community education initiatives in Royal Belum, ALAM and the German Embassy funded the construction of two Rumah Baca facilities in Kampung Kelewang and Kampung Tanhain. H.E. Michalis Rokas, Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Malaysia, explained that the EU grants align with the Convention of Biological Diversity 2020, demonstrating the EU’s strong commitment to biodiversity conservation and education.
Further underscoring the commitment to these initiatives, Dr Harikrishna Kulaveerasingam, Trustee of ALAM, a foundation by Bank Pembangunan Malaysia stated, “By empowering the Jahai community through education, we are not only preserving their cultural knowledge but also equipping them to be stewards of their environment and our forests, which is vital in protecting our Malayan Tiger.”
During the event, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad (KLK), a supporter of RIMAU’s tiger conservation initiative since 2021, donated food aid to 300 families in Royal Belum. "This annual event reflects our guiding principle that sustainability means ensuring the people, the planet and the business all thrive. We believe that when we take care of people and the planet, everyone thrives. Supporting the communities involved in RBSP's conservation efforts is crucial to us. This wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of RIMAU, PSPC, NRES, and all the partners here," said Mr. Loh Che Han, Plantation Assistant General Manager, KLK. In addition to providing food aid, KLK also supports RIMAU by funding the training and implementation of the Amanjaya Patrollers in Amanjaya, Perak.
The day was marked by cultural performances by the Jahai children, accompanied by various festive games for the community, celebrating the community spirit and collaborative conservation efforts that define the Global Tiger Day and World Ranger Day at Royal Belum.
This year’s celebration was a rallying call for greater conservation action and community involvement, highlighting the achievements in tiger conservation and further reinforcing the ongoing commitment to collaborative efforts that ensure the sustainability of these critical initiatives in Perak.
