The following is a commentary on Budget 2024 by Dato’ Hj. Zahari bin Ibrahim, Deputy Director General of Forestry Peninsular Malaysia (Policy & Planning) cum National Project Director, The Improving Connectivity in the Central Forest Spine (IC-CFS).
The Central Forest Spine (CFS), an initiative under the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia
welcomes the Budget 2024 that was presented by (Prime Minister) Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, on 13th October.
The CFS initiative was established to conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services as well as restore
connectivity between fragmented forest landscapes. The forests in Peninsular Malaysia, measuring
5.73 million hectares in size, is one of the oldest in the world and houses a plethora of flora and
fauna, including many endemic and endangered species.
Rapid development and industrialisation have led to the loss and fragmentation of many parts of our forests, threatening not only the wildlife and animals, but the indigenous communities and people who live around these areas.
The 2024 Budget clearly manifests the Government’s resolve and commitment toward restoring our
ecological legacy and promoting sustainable growth.
Allocation set aside for the Preservation of National Treasures
The IC-CFS Project, which receives international funding support from the United Nations Global Environmental Facility lauds the Government for allocating a budget of RM200 million for the
Ecological Fiscal Transfer for Biodiversity Conservation (EFT), a remarkable RM50 million increase
compared to the last budget.
As part of CFS’ mission to monitor activites that may pose threats to the forest, CFS launched its
SMART Patrol system. Therefore, the budget allocation of RM60 million (Point 158), to appoint
rangers among veterans from the Malaysian Armed Forces, the Royal Malaysia Police, Orang Asli and
local communities, is a welcomed move. This ensures not only are we taking proactive steps toward
enforcement initiatives, but also providing income and job opportunities.
There has also been a rise of human-wildlife-conflicts and the Rakyat has faced damages of up to
RM43 million. Hence, IC-CFS Project would like to laud the Government for helping ease the burdens
of those affected by human-wildlife conflicts, by providing them with the aid of RM10 million. Here at the IC-CFS, we will continue our work to support the CFS Master Plan in enhancing forest connectivity to help reduce these conflicts and collisions.
Efforts must be continued to conserve and manage forest sustainably forests so as to maintain its
ability to store carbon and thus support the nation’s aspiration of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The IC-CFS Project is pleased that the Federal Government will spearhead the issuance of biodiversity sukuk up to RM1 billion involving the replanting of degraded forests and potentially generate carbon credit.
Budget Allocation for Key Communities
One of CFS’ key focus areas is to uplift the livelihoods of the local communities and help them
generate income through ecotourism and community based organisation (CBO) activities. With the
allocation for the Orang Asli being increased to RM333 million as opposed to RM305 million this
year, these communities will be able to benefit from socioeconomic development, infrastructure
projects and the provision of social assistance.
We can only look forward to the Orang Asli being one of our future key economic drivers as the
budget also highlighted that an allocation worth RM28 million will be provided to the development
programme of Orang Asli entrepreneurs and the replanting of Orang Asli plantations.
Budget 2024 clearly demonstrates the Government’s commitment to raise Malaysia’s economy and
status of the Rakyat as well as uplifting the sustainability aspect of our development. CFS is certain
that all parties will be able to benefit and look forward to seeing the forests within Peninsular
Malaysia thrive.
–WE