Malaysian Strengthens Commitment To Sustainability, Wildlife Conservation

TAIPING, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has long implemented various sustainability policies and standards, including the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) Certification, which mandates the protection of High Conservation Value (HCV) areas, regulates forest clearance and supports the restoration of wildlife corridors.

Ministry of Plantations and Commodities Secretary-General Datuk Yusran Shah Mohd Yusof said that the commonly used “orangutan narrative” in global environmental campaigns, often portraying the palm oil industry as the main cause of forest destruction, is misleading and needs to be corrected.

"Statistics show that more than 50 per cent of orangutan habitat in Sabah and Sarawak is now in protected areas. In fact, a large portion of conservation funding comes directly from the palm oil industry itself through initiatives such as the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF), Sawit Kinabalu and other local companies.

"Orangutans should not be used as a tool to attack the oil palm industry. On the contrary, there is evidence that a sustainable palm oil sector can serve as a strategic partner in environmental conservation, " he said when opening the 2025 World Orangutan Day at the Taiping Zoo & Night Safari here today.

 Yusran Shah, who is also MPOGCF Board of Trustees chairman, emphasised that the annual World Orangutan Day celebration is more than a symbolic gesture, but also reflects Malaysia’s genuine commitment to achieving a balance between economic growth and biodiversity conservation.

He said that MPOGCF, as a trust entity under the ministry, plays an important role in aligning the palm oil sector with the national and global conservation goals.

“This approach not only protects the image of the country’s palm oil,  but also proves that economic prosperity and environmental sustainability can go hand in hand,” he added.

He said, although World Orangutan Day is officially observed on  Aug 19,  this year’s celebration was held today due to logistical constraints.

Yusran Shah said hosting the event in Peninsular Malaysia, despite orangutans being native only to Sabah and Sarawak, helps foster a sense of shared responsibility among all Malaysians.

“Orangutan conservation is not the responsibility of Sabah or Sarawak alone, but a duty shared by every Malaysian,” he said.

This year saw the first-ever collaboration between MPOGCF and Taiping Zoo & Night Safari, a venue well known for its wildlife conservation efforts.

The celebration featured exhibitions from key partners, including the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), the Department of Wildlife Conservation and National Parks (PERHILITAN),  Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU), Sawit Kinabalu, Bukit Merah Orang Utan Island Foundation and FELDA.

Highlights of the event included a 2.5-kilometre Fun Walk within the zoo grounds, joined by more than 500 participants, who stopped at several 'check points' to answer quizzes about orangutans and the palm oil industry.

A colouring competition also drew nearly 200 children, adding to the family-friendly atmosphere.

According to Yusran Shah, MPOGCF also introduced the Orang Utan Diplomacy (OUDip) initiative, an in-situ conservation programme that allows orangutans to live freely in their natural habitats without disturbance from human activity, plantation operations, or tourism activities.

“Recently, MPOGCF contributed RM20,000 towards the implementation of the OUDip programme, and proceeds from today’s Fun Walk ticket sales will also be channelled to the fund,” he said.

-- BERNAMA