Oil Palm Industry Allocates Rm200,000 To Boost Orangutan Habitats - Noraini

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 6 (Bernama) -- The oil palm industry has allocated RM200,000 for efforts to conserve and protect orangutan habitats, said Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad.

She said the efforts, carried out through the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF), were important in raising public awareness of the importance of preserving orangutan habitats.

“Through MPOGCF, the palm oil industry has contributed nearly RM200,000. The contribution shows that commitment to conservation can be translated into tangible action on the ground.

“These include providing orangutan bridges to connect fragmented habitats, as well as a patrol boat to assist rangers in carrying out monitoring and enforcement,” she said in her speech at the launch of the World Orangutan Day 2026 here today.

Meanwhile, Noraini said 1,500 participants had taken part in a run held in conjunction with the World Orangutan Day, making it the largest participation since the celebration was first organised by MPOGCF.

“Today’s participation is not merely about completing a run. The participation fees collected will be channelled entirely to the MPOGCF Conservation Fund.

“The contributions will be used to support orangutan conservation efforts through the Orangutan Diplomacy Programme (OUDip),” she said.

She said the programme is being implemented at the Sungai Pin Conservation Area (SPnCA) within the Sawit Kinabalu Group plantation area in Kinabatangan, Sabah.

“Sawit Kinabalu Group has allocated about 2,632 hectares at Sungai Pin Estate as a High Conservation Value area. The area is estimated to be a habitat for about 55 orangutans,” she said.

In a separate press conference, Noraini said future efforts to conserve orangutans should not be focused on just one area but expanded if other areas requiring attention are identified.

“The focus is indeed on Sabah, but naturally there may be other places. We will ensure that the coverage is wider, rather than focusing on just one location,” she said.

Noraini also hoped that additional allocations could be considered under the upcoming Budget to strengthen the efforts, while encouraging funding from the private sector and the public.

-- BERNAMA