Lahad Datu’s rhino sanctuary receives RM14.85 mln fund

MANJUNG: The Sime Darby Foundation (YSD) contributed RM14.85 million since 2009 to prevent the extinction of the Sumatran rhinoceros.

Sime Darby Berhad president and group chief executive Tan Sri Mohd Bakke Salleh said the fund was channeled to the Sumatran rhinoceros sanctuary at Tabin Forest Reserve in Lahad Datu, Sabah.

Despite various efforts to breed the rhinoceros with domestic and foreign expertise, the Sabah state government declared that the Sumatran rhinoceros had become extinct in the wild in Malaysia, he added.

“Even though the Sumatran rhinoceros species has been declared extinct in the wild, YSD is still committed to preserve animals facing the threat of extinction, among them the Asian elephants,” he said.

He was speaking at yesterday’s closing ceremony of the 2016 MSAM Sime Darby Walk at the Manjung Municipality Council Sports Complex here which is being held in conjunction with the 17th pre-Malaysian Unit Trust Week (MASM) at the Tapah Mini Stadium here. The programme kicks of on Wednesday and ends on April 28.

Also present was PNB president and group chief executive Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman.

Earlier in the morning, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir had flagged off about 10,000 participants in the 5.5 kilometre walk.

Commenting further, Mohd Bakke said YSD was collaborating with the University of Nottingham in the first large scale research to evaluate the effectiveness of Asian elephant management policies in the country.

“This is apart from developing long-term strategy based on scientific information on the ecology and habits of Asian elephants.

“The study will also develop a new generation of academic environment researchers and managers as well as to improve the building capacity of the Wildlife Department,” he said.

In this regard, Mohd Bakke said YSD was also committed to support the conservation of endangered birds project such as the hornbill in Perak, which is led by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS).

He said since 2014, YSD had contributed RM1.2 million to the Hornbill-MNS project in the Belum-Temenggor Forest Complex.

“YSD also worked with the Pulau Banding Foundation to launch the Belum Discovery Centre (BDC) last year.

“The information centre is the first in the forest complex to provide awareness and knowledge to visitors on the rich biodiversity of the forest,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sime Darby has allocated 40 hectares of its land to the Perak state government for Hilir Perak’s new administrative centre.

Speaking at a media conference after the flag-off, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said a new polytechnic would be built in a portion of the area in Bagan Datoh.

He said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had informed him of the matter on Saturday.

“The state government would like to thank Tan Sri Bakke Saleh for providing the land for the development of Hilir Perak,” he said.

“The site of the new polytechnic has also been identified,” he added. - Bernama