“We are focused and serious about ensuring that the tiger doesn’t go extinct. This is a shared responsibility and duty in curbing poaching,” he said after witnessing an agreement for the palm oil industry’s support for conservation plans.

“We are amending the Wildlife Conservation Act so that we can be more responsive to current developments and wildlife conservation efforts where we will increase penalties and fines for offenders. We know that there are irresponsible parties who traffic wildlife online. So the amendment will strengthen enforcement in combating illegal activities,” he said.

He said it is hoped the joint plan, involving the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry, other agencies and industry players, would be able to handle the Malayan Tiger’s extinction crisis and raise the reputation and image of the oil palm industry from the sustainability aspect.

He said this after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding at the National Wildlife Rescue Centre together with plantation industries and commodities minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali today.

The agreement involves the Wildlife and National Parks Department, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board and the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conversation Foundation. A sum of RM3 million over five years was allocated for the conservation of Malayan tigers.

Shamsul Anuar said that the government’s efforts required the involvement of all parties to come together to create awareness about the poaching of endangered species such as the Malayan Tiger.

On the long-term and short-term conservation plans for the Malayan tiger, Shamsul Anuar said they include a breeding programme, transferring Malayan tigers to the National Tiger Conservation Centre in Lanchang, Pahang, rewilding the tigers, releasing them into the wild and monitoring them after release.