ADDITIONAL RM5 MLN ALLOCATED FOR ZOO NEGARA OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE - PM ANWAR

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 (Bernama) -- The government has approved an additional allocation of RM5 million for the operations and maintenance of Zoo Negara this year following the conservation centre’s commendable performance as a tourism and environmental education attraction.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the RM5 million allocation announced last year was intended for additional facilities and supervision, as well as recognising Zoo Negara’s role in fostering eco-friendly awareness among visitors and students.

“When I visited previously, I announced RM5 million last year to provide additional facilities and supervision at Zoo Negara because of their commendable performance as a tourist attraction, and to give schoolchildren exposure to encourage them to be more environmentally conscious.

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“This year, I have approved RM5 million for their operations and maintenance of the area,” he said at a press conference after officiating the introduction of new giant panda pair, Chen Xing and Xiao Yue,  at Zoo Negara's Giant Panda Conservation Centre here today.

Also present were Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, his deputy Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and China’s Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing.

Anwar also expressed his gratitude to the Chinese government for the contribution of the two giant pandas, which are a major attraction for domestic and international tourism and a symbol of conservation cooperation between the two countries.

"I take this opportunity through the Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia to thank President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government for providing a meaningful contribution because this is a major attraction for tourists both domestically and internationally," he said.

The Prime Minister also expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability and the entire team that has expertise in caring for pandas.

"This matter makes us proud in terms of internal capabilities," he said.

Anwar also jokingly said that only bamboo from Rembau, Negeri Sembilan was chosen by the giant panda pair.

"I was informed earlier that these pandas are very picky, they do not eat any bamboo... various types have been tried, but only bamboo from Rembau was accepted," he said.

Responding to questions from the media, Anwar said discussions were ongoing with the Selangor state government to determine whether it was appropriate to expand the zoo within its current site, while taking into account surrounding development pressures and the need to safeguard the environment.

He said the government is aware of concerns raised by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) over land reserved for Zoo Negara since 1963, including its relevance to future expansion and commitments linked to the giant panda conservation programme.

"For now, there is no acute concern. There is room for expansion. We discussed with the state government whether it is prudent to expand in the present facility or not. These are issues that we have to decide first.

"This is the only area which is rather congested because huge housing project outside, so we are looking at it, but the fact that we have reserved land is a good thing.

"We do not necessarily need to utilise every inch of the land. We should keep the green lung around this area, and we are quite strict on that," he said.

He also expressed his appreciation to the Selangor state government for ensuring that there was no undue development within the green lung, particularly in areas under the control of the zoo and its surrounding outskirts, which must be protected for environmental reasons.

-- BERNAMA