Time to rejoice: Penang did not lose a single tree to loggers in its permanent forest reserves between 2006 and 2015. At least according to the state’s Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. Yes, but what of the periodic forest-clearings on the island’s hills that have left visible “bald” patches in…
It’s easy to be skeptical of Malaysian government ministers. They say one thing and do another. Or else they may fail to do anything at all. Now and again, however, some ministers do seem to want to make a difference for the better. A case in point is a recent…
Tree by precious tree forests around Malaysia are getting stripped of their greenery. The reason: woods are harvested for timber or they are cut down so that their places can be taken by oil palms. And not even protected forest reserves are being spared. Upreshpal Singh, a noted environmentalist who…
Slash-and-burn forest clearing can deal incalculable damage to local ecosystems, yet forest fires, large and small, continue to be set around much of Malaysia largely in order to clear woods for agricultural plots and palm oil plantations. To date the government has largely been fighting a rearguard action against the practice…
Facilities and amenities at national parks in the Malaysian state of Sarawak are about to get an upgrade. The move continues a statewide push to attract more tourism in 2016, and will highlight the region’s natural beauty for visitors from around the world. The Malaysian state of Sarawak has long been…
In perhaps one of Malaysia’s biggest environmental promises to date, the country has pledged to retain 50% of its forest cover. The commitment was made during the global climate change convention COP21 in December. It’s a brave promise, and will be a big win for Malaysia’s beautiful, rich, and quickly…
The Maroon Langur, also known as the Maroon leaf monkey, is a threatened primate species endemic to the island of Borneo. Of medium size and rusty red color, they swing from tree to tree feeding on leaves, seeds and fruits. Their appetites are quite exploratory – they may sample more…
By She Mei Tan It is exciting and yet depressing when news headlines are splashed with the success of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)’s seizure of logs worth RM600,000, its raids of 48 log ponds, sawmills and business premises, and its freezing of 375 bank accounts belonging to individuals and…
A welcome departure from the Malaysian habit of favoring short-term economic growth over environmental responsibility and long-term sustainability has come – quite surprisingly – from the government. A Malaysian Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department by the name of Datuk Mah Siew Keong recently took a trip to China. He…
That our earth is in the grips of environmental crisis is something we have known for years. Global warming, deforestation, pollution and resource shortages have been big news for a long time. But that we are in the midst of the planet’s sixth mass extinction event – the cause of…
A dangerous and potentially deadly monkey-borne parasite has reared its head in Malaysia. Once rarely seen in humans, it is now responsible for more than two-thirds of hospitalized malaria patients in Malaysian Borneo. The cause? Deforestation in Malaysia. Plasmodium knowlesi is a Southeast Asian malaria parasite that, in a healthy…
Spirits were lifted and hopes raised for sustainability last year when plans for Malaysia’s first geothermal power plant were publicized in Sabah, Eastern Malaysia. After the discovery of geothermal surface manifestations in a 50 square-kilometer area near the town of Tawau, it was determined that the area had the potential to…
Known for its dense tropical forests, beautiful islands and staggering natural biodiversity, Malaysia has a reputation as an environmental treasure. You’ll find pictures of Malaysian jungle in nature magazines, backgrounding vacation advertisements and pasted onto any website trying for some reason to remind readers of just how breathtaking a place…
Because haze in Indonesia often blows over to become haze in Malaysia, both countries often suffer from Indonesian fires. It is for this reason that Malaysia’s Natural Resources and Environment Minister will soon be meeting with his Indonesian counterpart to discuss the matter of transboundary haze pollution. The Malaysian environmental…
The Borneo elephant, otherwise known as the pygmy elephant, lives in the tropical forests of the island for which it is named. The pygmy elephant’s primary habitats are the wooded areas of northeastern Borneo. Most of these reaches are located in the Malaysian state of Sabah, and are also prime…
Flying camera drones are being used to monitor palm oil plantation activity, fighting illegal land clearing and deforestation in Malaysia. In order to identify protected areas, single out especially rich environments and effectively keep tabs on what’s going on in the jungle, Malaysia’s forests must be surveyed from above. Drones…