Latest news with #JohorWildlifeandNationalParksDepartment
The Star
14-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Human-elephant conflicts cause RM1.1mil losses in Johor
KLUANG: Close to 700 complaints related to human-elephant conflicts have been reported to the Johor Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) over the past five years, says state executive councillor Ling Tian Soon. The Johor health and environment committee chairman said the most affected districts included Kluang, Kota Tinggi, Mersing and Segamat. "This is a serious issue in Johor. In the first six months of this year alone, human-elephant conflicts have caused losses amounting to about RM1.1mil. "While Johor Perhilitan has been actively conducting translocation operations annually, the manpower they have is not enough to cope with the high number of complaints. "As such, we have reached out to the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry for assistance, which has led to the launch of a special translocation operation," he said. He said this to reporters after launching the Johor Elephant Translocation Operation here on Monday (July 14). Ling added that the operation, which is being carried out from this month until December, is expected to translocate between 10 and 12 elephants. "In the first six months, Johor Perhilitan managed to relocate five elephants with the limited resources and manpower it has. "With this new operation, which is receiving support from Perhilitan officers from across Peninsular Malaysia, we expect to double that number," he said. To support the effort, Ling said the state government has also channelled RM600,000 from its Ecological Fiscal Transfers (EFT) fund for the operation. "Johor is the only state that has ever made such an allocation, and this shows our commitment to addressing the issue," he said.
The Star
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Johor eyeing gold standard in landscaping
Close collaboration between government, industry players and community key to meeting state's green goals The National Landscape Day (HLN) 2025, now in its 26th edition, has given Johor the platform to reaffirm its position as a hub for sustainable landscape development. The six-day event at Taman Bandar Bukit Layang-Layang in Pasir Gudang, which kicked off on June 25, drew thousands of visitors from across the country. The floral exhibition welcomed Johor Regent Tunku Ismail's wife Che' Puan Mahkota Khaleeda Johor who was accompanied by Tunku Tun Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Sultan Ibrahim on June 26. The presence of Johor royalty lent strong symbolic weight to the state's commitment to landscape development, which is increasingly viewed as a pillar of urban planning and public well-being. Also present were Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming. Visitors looking at bonsai trees on display at HLN 2025 in Taman Bandar Bukit Layang Layang. Onn Hafiz said Johor was honoured to be selected as the host for this year's celebration, noting that it reflected the state's leadership in the landscape industry. 'Johor contributes more than 87% of Malaysia's plant nursery output. This makes us the heartbeat of the country's landscaping value chain,' he said. He emphasised that landscape development was more than just aesthetics for its vital role in creating sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient cities. 'Landscaping directly contributes to the quality of life, helps mitigate climate change, and supports the creation of healthier, more harmonious living environments,' he added. Onn Hafiz also said Johor was the only state in Malaysia with a dedicated landscape department, an institutional move that was part of the state government's long-term vision for green development. Johor Landscape Department, he said, showed the state's commitment to systematic and structured planning. A family playing with an elephant mascot from Johor Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan). This was in line with the Maju Johor 2030 vision that prioritised sustainable development and societal well-being, he added. Onn Hafiz said close collaboration between federal and state governments, local councils, industry players and communities was key to unlocking the landscaping sector's full potential. 'Through such cooperation, the state government aims to strengthen Johor as a progressive, sustainable state ready to become a top-tier destination for tourism and investment,' he said. Onn Hafiz, who is also Machap assemblyman, added that Johor was ready to lead by example in building modern cities that were mindful of their natural assets. 'With continued cooperation from all parties, we will realise our shared vision of a greener, healthier Johor and a better Malaysia,' he said. State housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said HLN was not just an annual celebration but a continuous movement to instil green values in everyday life. HLN 2025 in Pasir Gudang attracted many visitors from near and far. 'Public parks, green spaces and urban landscaping are reflections of civilisation and more importantly, the government's care and commitment toward its people,' he said. He added that each housing and urban development project in Johor would be required to allocate green areas to promote healthier, cooler and more liveable cities. 'Green zones are no longer a luxury. They are essential infrastructure for mental health, community building and climate adaptation,' he said. In addition to the ongoing Johor Bersih programme, he said the state government was stepping up efforts to revive urban parks, plant more shady trees, and engage communities in beautifying their surroundings. Mohd Jafni said this year's HLN saw participation from a broad cross-section of society, including students, residents' associations and technical agencies. 'Tree planting, landscape design competitions and community clean-up campaigns are proof that love for nature is a shared responsibility.' Mohd Jafni added that the state government was determined to ensure Johor set the gold standard in landscape planning and implementation. 'Our ambition is to make Johor the greenest, cleanest and most sustainable state in Malaysia by 2030,' he said. Ideal event location Pasir Gudang was chosen to host this year's celebration due to its strategic location and high commitment to sustainable city planning. Long known for its industrial base, Pasir Gudang is also emerging as a city focused on environmental stewardship and community engagement in green initiatives. Event venue Taman Bukit Layang-Layang is a landmark green space that also hosts the renowned Pasir Gudang International Kite Festival. Its lush natural surroundings and modern facilities made it an ideal choice for HLN 2025, said the Housing and Local Government Ministry. This year's theme, 'Landscape Industry: A Catalyst for Madani Development', aligned with the government's goal to elevate the landscape sector as a high-impact contributor to national sustainability and economic well-being. HLN was first celebrated on March 3, 1998, marking the anniversary of Malaysia's nationwide tree-planting campaign launched a year earlier. Two visitors capturing images of a field of flowers with their mobile phones at HLN 2025. Since then, the celebration has evolved into a platform to raise awareness on the importance of landscape planning in modern living. HLN 2025 featured over 120 booths showcasing landscape products and services, government agency initiatives and green technology. Interactive forums, entrepreneur discussions, and product demonstrations provided opportunities for direct engagement between industry players, policymakers and the public. The event was also designed to encourage youth involvement, with educational programmes aimed at building environmental awareness among school and university students. HLN 2025 also aimed at boosting landscape quality nationwide through knowledge-sharing, industry networking and community mobilisation. The ministry added that the event reinforced Malaysia's long-term vision of becoming a model sustainable nation by 2035, with the landscape sector playing a vital role in shaping liveable, climate-adaptive cities. Landscape sector According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the landscape industry contributed RM39.4bil to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024, up from RM35.6bil the year before. This growth underscores the industry's potential as a key driver of Malaysia's green economy, especially with the rise in demand for sustainable housing developments. Landscape is now a major factor in property marketing and buyer decision-making, especially in urban centres such as the Klang Valley and Johor. Malaysia currently has over 26,000 active business entities in the landscape sector, including contractors, nurseries, manufacturers and landscape architecture consultants. Demand for green spaces is also fuelled by legal requirements such as 10% open space allocation stipulated under the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 (Act 172). These regulations serve as policy drivers to ensure that green infrastructure is integrated into all new developments.
Straits Times
20-06-2025
- Straits Times
Elephant that ravaged Desaru fruit farm has been relocated
A male elephant was captured by the Johor Wildlife and National Parks Department after it ravaged a fruit farm. PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Elephant that ravaged Desaru fruit farm has been relocated KOTA TINGGI - An elephant that has been ravaging a fruit farm for the past week in Malaysia has been successfully relocated, said Johor health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon. He said the male elephant was captured by the Johor Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) on June 19. 'We received a report about an elephant entering and damaging coconut and fruit plantations at Desaru Fruit Farm a week earlier,' he said on Facebook, adding that an operation was later launched on June 16 to capture the elephant. 'The elephant was later found on June 19 within Universiti Teknologi Malaysia's land in Sungai Cemaran, Desaru.' He added that the operation, dubbed Ops Gajah, was conducted around Tanjung Sedili and nearby areas. 'The operation was carried out by Johor Perhilitan's Elephant Capture Unit, which confirmed the animal's identity and successfully relocated it to prevent further human-wildlife conflict,' he added. Meanwhile, when contacted, Johor Perhilitan director Aminuddin Jamin said that the elephant was believed to be from the ID Panti herd. 'The elephant may have lost its way and we have relocated it to its natural habitat,' he said. 'The elephant is part of the ID Panti group, which is one of the five identified herds in Johor.' THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
20-06-2025
- The Star
Johor Perhilitan captures male elephant that strayed into UTM land in Desaru
JOHOR BARU: The Johor Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) has captured a wild male elephant on the grounds of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Sungai Cemaran in Desaru near here. Johor health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said the Johor Elephant Capture Unit carried out the task on Thursday (June 19) following efforts that began on Monday in Tanjung Sedili and surrounding areas. "The captured elephant was part of a main group of elephants which became separated from the herd, which a week earlier entered and ravaged coconut and fruit orchards at Desaru Fruit Farm," he said in a Facebook post on Friday (June 20). Ling said the group of elephants had also raided the abundant fruit orchards around Desaru Fruit Farm several weeks ago. – Bernama
