Budget 2024: RM200 mln for EFT, more community rangers to be appointed

KUALA LUMPUR - The allocation for the Ecological Fiscal Transfer for Biodiversity Conservation (EFT) will be increased to RM200 million next year, compared to RM150 million this year, to support the efforts of state governments in increasing the percentage of protected forest areas and conserving endangered wildlife.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when tabling the Malaysia Madani Budget 2024 at the Dewan Rakyat today said the number of community rangers will also be increased to 2,000 from the current 1,000, to strengthen enforcement in permanent forest reserve areas.

He said the increase is crucial as community rangers had successfully helped combat poaching, illegal logging and mining, as well as the killing of wildlife in these areas.

Therefore, RM60 million is allocated to appoint rangers from among military and police veterans, as well as Orang Asli and local communities.

Anwar also announced an allocation of RM10 million to help alleviate the burden of people involved in human-wildlife conflict.

He said this is because, between 2018 and 2022, over 46,000 complaints were made concerning conflicts between humans and wild animals, such as elephants, tigers, tapirs, which resulted in losses estimated at RM43 million. - BERNAMA