Putrajaya: The oil palm industry has allocated RM200,000 for efforts to conserve and protect orangutan habitats, as announced by Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad. These initiatives, conducted through the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF), aim to enhance public awareness regarding the importance of preserving orangutan habitats.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Noraini highlighted that the contributions from the palm oil industry, amounting to nearly RM200,000, signify a commitment to conservation that translates into practical actions. These initiatives include constructing orangutan bridges to connect fragmented habitats and providing a patrol boat for rangers to bolster monitoring and enforcement efforts. These remarks were made during her speech at the launch of World Orangutan Day 2026.
Noraini further shared that the World Orangutan Day event saw participation from 1,500 individuals, marking the largest turnout since the event's inception by MPOGCF. The participation fees collected are earmarked entirely for the MPOGCF Conservation Fund, supporting orangutan conservation efforts through the Orangutan Diplomacy Programme (OUDip).
The OUDip programme is currently being implemented at the Sungai Pin Conservation Area (SPnCA) within the Sawit Kinabalu Group plantation area in Kinabatangan, Sabah. The Sawit Kinabalu Group has designated approximately 2,632 hectares at Sungai Pin Estate as a High Conservation Value area, which is estimated to be home to about 55 orangutans.
In a separate press conference, Noraini emphasized the need for future conservation efforts to extend beyond a single area and to include other regions that may require attention. While the primary focus is on Sabah, she mentioned the potential for identifying additional locations needing conservation efforts.
Noraini also expressed hope for additional allocations in the upcoming Budget to strengthen these efforts and encouraged funding from both the private sector and the public to support the cause.