KUALA LUMPUR: The government is serious in tackling the issue of the depleting Malayan tiger population as there are now fewer than 150 of the iconic felines in the country’s forests, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

       The Prime Minister said if immediate action was not taken, Malaysia faced the risk of seeing the Malayan tiger, known by its scientific name Panthera tigris jacksoni, going extinct.

       "More worrying is the fact that this iconic species of the country may be lost forever,” he said in a statement after chairing the first meeting of the National Tiger Conservation Task Force (MyTTF) in Putarajaya Monday (Jan 10).

       The Malayan tiger is a symbol of the coat of arms of Malaysia and features in the crest of states, government ministries, departments and agencies.

       The meeting was attended by Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun; Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail; Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and state executive council members representing the mentris besar of Kelantan, Terengganu, Johor, Kedah and Perak.

       At the federal level, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and representatives of the relevant ministries, departments and agencies were also present.

       Ismail Sabri said the dwindling Malayan tiger population was due to loss of habitat and food sources resulting from land use changes, hunting and illegal trade in animals, as well as the spread of the canine distemper virus.

       He said Monday's meeting agreed with the Strategic Actions for Conservation of the Malayan tiger for a 10-year period beginning this year, through the implementation of six approaches including boots on the ground joint operations involving the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan), Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and the Orang Asli community.

       He said the MyTTF also agreed to preserve and strengthen habitat through sustainable land use management and to stop any activities of encroachment and illegal hunting.

       "Another measure agreed to is to increase the forest cover in Peninsular Malaysia from 43.41% now to 50% by 2040, in line with the Fourth National Physical Plan.

       "(It also calls for) empowering effective governance through the establishment of the Malayan Tiger Conservation Unit under Perhilitan, Wildlife Crimes Bureau under the police and strengthening the National Wildlife Forensics Laboratory as a centre of excellence for ex-situ conservation of the Malayan tiger," he added.

       Ismail Sabri said MyTTF also agreed to the use of innovative financial instruments to supplement the existing Ecological Fiscal Transfer for Biodiversity Conservation financial incentive and implementation of the Malayan tiger habitat accreditation scheme, apart from holding "Save Harimau Malaya" campaigns to boost awareness and involvement of strategic partners.

       He said efforts already undertaken to protect the Malayan tiger included amendments to the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 which were passed by Parliament on Dec 21 last year to provide for more effective enforcement of wildlife conservation laws.

       Under the amendments, the maximum fine was raised from RM500,000 to RM1mil and the maximum jail term was increased from 10 years to 15 years for perpetrators of wild life crimes.

       "Apart from this, there are new provisions for action to be taken against individuals who advertise the sale of wildlife online,” he said. - Bernama