PUTRAJAYA, March 23 — RM1 from every match ticket sold for national football team Harimau Malaya will go towards Malayan tiger conservation efforts, Hannah Yeoh said today.
As the youth and sports minister, she told reporters during a press conference at her ministry this afternoon that she wanted youths to pay more attention to environmental issues as a shared responsibility.
“What we want is that every time Harimau Malaya takes to the field to play, all of the supporters and viewers are involved in the effort to preserve and conserve this animal for future Malaysian generations,” she said.
Ministry secretary-general Dr K. Nagulendran said that the RM1 will go not only to the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, but also will help the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and Orang Asli communities that are involved in the effort.
He expressed hope that the small sum will raise awareness among youths.
He also pointed out that the Covid-19 virus is a zoonotic disease that resulted from the destruction of animal habitats.
“We are part of nature, and we are all very connected,” he said.
Yeoh said that according to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), there is no time limit to the initiative, and it is a long-term programme that will continue until it succeeds.
Dr Nagulendran drew parallels with the RM0.20 plastic charge for plastic bags in Selangor and Penang, saying that it not only was an alternative method to gain funds for the conservation effort but also raises awareness for the cause.
Similar efforts have been made in other countries, he said.
Budget 2023 has allocated RM38 million for wildlife protection, including animals and the conservation of their habitats, as reported by national news agency Bernama.
In 2021, Parliament was told that the Malayan tiger is on the verge of extinction and could be wiped out in as little as five years to a decade from then.
