Pahang Uae Collaborate In Rm100mil Tiger Conservation Effort

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The Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah (standing, centre), during the signing ceremony today at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
PETALING JAYA: A Pahang group and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have formed a partnership to conserve the endangered Malayan tiger and preserve its natural habitat, backed by a RM99.8 million grant from the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (MBZIF).
Enggang Management Services and MBZIF will jointly oversee the initiative’s implementation at the Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve through the establishment of a grant steering committee which aims to tackle threats such as poaching, habitat destruction and declining tiger populations.
Key actions include anti-poaching patrols, breeding programmes for prey species and the integration of innovative tools like genetic studies and establishing in situ research facilities.
These efforts are expected to secure sustainable food sources and enhance overall conservation outcomes for the Malayan tiger – of which there are less than 150 in the wild.
The partnership was officially announced today during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in a significant boost for forest and wildlife conservation in Malaysia.
Meanwhile, the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, said he was grateful for the collaboration and emphasised the importance of international partnerships in addressing global conservation challenges.
“This partnership with the UAE enables us to be ambitious in our efforts to protect the Malayan tiger and other endangered species,” he said in a press release.
“It serves as a testament to the power of bilateral cooperation in achieving meaningful outcomes for wildlife and ecosystems.”
Tengku Hassanal has been outspoken on conserving the Malayan tiger population.
Last August, he launched a dual language comic book, Oyen & Rimao, under his Save The Malayan Tiger initiative – which is aimed at safeguarding the Malayan tiger and its habitat.
MBZIF managing director Razan Al Mubarak underscored the broader significance of the initiative, describing it as both a moral duty and “an investment in our planet’s future.”
“This initiative will ensure that the Malayan tiger has a chance to thrive while also benefitting local communities and stabilising vital ecosystems,” Razan said.
The Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve, located next to Taman Negara National Park in Pahang, spans 1,340 sq km and serves as a critical habitat for the Malayan tiger.
The reserve’s conservation efforts will also address climate change by protecting rainforests that store millions of tons of carbon.
Local and indigenous communities will play a central role and benefit from conservation-related jobs and sustainable tourism opportunities at the reserve. - FMT

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