Malaysia tackles wildlife roadkill with eco-signs, new laws
Concerned over the toll on both wildlife and motorists, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) — through the Department of Wildlife and National Parks and WWF-Malaysia — convened a high-level roundtable on July 17 to chart immediate and long-term strategies.
In a statement today, NRES said the East–West Highway (Jalan Raya Timur-Barat, JRTB) linking Gerik, Perak, to Jeli, Kelantan, was identified as one of the worst-affected stretches.
More than 2,300 incidents involving wild animals were recorded between 2020 and 2024.
Short-term actions include strengthening wildlife protection laws, installing more visible and eco-friendly road signs, running awareness campaigns for motorists, and promoting responsible driving in known wildlife crossing zones.
Medium and long-term measures will focus on restoring habitats, improving forest connectivity to reduce the need for animals to cross roads, and maintaining or upgrading existing wildlife crossings.
'These measures must be implemented proactively to improve safety for both humans and wildlife,' the ministry stated.
The roundtable brought together 60 stakeholders from ministries, agencies, the private sector, and the Selangor and Federal Territory Engineering & Motor Parts Traders Association (EMPTA).
The announcement comes ahead of World Elephant Day (WED), today (August 12), which raises awareness on elephant conservation and threats to the species.
The ministry said the initiatives align with the National Elephant Conservation Action Plan (NECAP 2.0).
In conjunction with WED 2025, WWF-Malaysia and EMPTA signed a memorandum of agreement to collaborate on road safety initiatives aimed at reducing wildlife roadkill.
The partnership will involve transport companies, logistics service providers and other industry players in promoting safe driving through ecological zones.
WWF-Malaysia said the collaboration will also address the role of heavy vehicles in roadkill incidents by ensuring drivers are better informed and alert in high-risk areas.
The ministry urged all sectors of society — from government agencies to private companies and road users — to work together in reducing roadkill incidents.
'Protecting wildlife is a shared responsibility,' it said.
'By working together, we can safeguard our natural heritage for the well-being of current and future generations.'
These measures follow a spate of roadkill accidents over the past year.
One notable case occurred last May, when an elephant calf was struck and killed by a truck on the East–West Highway, prompting renewed calls for dedicated measures and wildlife crossings in Malaysia's animal-rich landscapes.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
11 hours ago
- The Sun
Malaysia tackles wildlife roadkill with eco-signs, new laws
PETALING JAYA: Stricter legislation, eco-friendly road signage and heightened driver awareness are among urgent measures to curb the alarming rise in wildlife roadkill across Malaysia. Concerned over the toll on both wildlife and motorists, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) — through the Department of Wildlife and National Parks and WWF-Malaysia — convened a high-level roundtable on July 17 to chart immediate and long-term strategies. In a statement today, NRES said the East–West Highway (Jalan Raya Timur-Barat, JRTB) linking Gerik, Perak, to Jeli, Kelantan, was identified as one of the worst-affected stretches. More than 2,300 incidents involving wild animals were recorded between 2020 and 2024. Short-term actions include strengthening wildlife protection laws, installing more visible and eco-friendly road signs, running awareness campaigns for motorists, and promoting responsible driving in known wildlife crossing zones. Medium and long-term measures will focus on restoring habitats, improving forest connectivity to reduce the need for animals to cross roads, and maintaining or upgrading existing wildlife crossings. 'These measures must be implemented proactively to improve safety for both humans and wildlife,' the ministry stated. The roundtable brought together 60 stakeholders from ministries, agencies, the private sector, and the Selangor and Federal Territory Engineering & Motor Parts Traders Association (EMPTA). The announcement comes ahead of World Elephant Day (WED), today (August 12), which raises awareness on elephant conservation and threats to the species. The ministry said the initiatives align with the National Elephant Conservation Action Plan (NECAP 2.0). In conjunction with WED 2025, WWF-Malaysia and EMPTA signed a memorandum of agreement to collaborate on road safety initiatives aimed at reducing wildlife roadkill. The partnership will involve transport companies, logistics service providers and other industry players in promoting safe driving through ecological zones. WWF-Malaysia said the collaboration will also address the role of heavy vehicles in roadkill incidents by ensuring drivers are better informed and alert in high-risk areas. The ministry urged all sectors of society — from government agencies to private companies and road users — to work together in reducing roadkill incidents. 'Protecting wildlife is a shared responsibility,' it said. 'By working together, we can safeguard our natural heritage for the well-being of current and future generations.' These measures follow a spate of roadkill accidents over the past year. One notable case occurred last May, when an elephant calf was struck and killed by a truck on the East–West Highway, prompting renewed calls for dedicated measures and wildlife crossings in Malaysia's animal-rich landscapes.
Free Malaysia Today
11 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
No toll for motorcyclists, says Malaysian Highway Authority
The Malaysian Highway Authority has denied any plan to impose a toll on motorcycles. PETALING JAYA : Motorcyclists will continue to be exempted from paying toll, says the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM). Responding to a viral post on social media account yesterday, it confirmed the claim was false, Bernama reported. The post claimed motorcyclists would begin paying tolls this October. LLM warned that such misinformation could unnecessarily alarm motorcyclists and harm the reputation of the government, the works ministry, LLM and the affected highway concessionaires. LLM said PLUS Malaysia Berhad is at present only testing an open toll system using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology. 'If these tests prove successful, the system will be rolled out in stages across highways operated by PLUS Malaysia Berhad,' it said. The new system is expected to improve traffic flow, make it more convenient for motorists and reduce congestion at toll plazas. LLM urged the public to rely only on official updates from the relevant authorities.
New Straits Times
13 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Govt to introduce eco-friendly signs, tougher laws to curb wildlife roadkill
KUALA LUMPUR: Installing eco-friendly road signs and tightening laws are among urgent actions the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry will take to curb wildlife roadkill. The measures were outlined at a high-level roundtable on July 17, which focused on the East-West Highway (JRTB) linking Gerik, Perak, and Jeli, Kelantan — one of the country's worst stretches for wildlife fatalities. In a statement, the ministry said more than 2,300 roadkill cases were recorded between 2020 and 2024, with the JRTB among the top hotspots. Short-term steps include stricter laws, raising driver awareness, and promoting responsible road behaviour, while medium- and long-term actions cover habitat enrichment, improving forest connectivity, and preserving existing wildlife crossings. The meeting brought together 60 representatives from key ministries, government agencies, state authorities, NGOs, highway concessionaires, and the Selangor and Federal Territory Engineering and Motor Parts Traders Association (Empta). The ministry said implementation will be stepped up in conjunction with World Elephant Day on Aug 12, which highlights the need to conserve elephants and address threats to the species. To mark the occasion, World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-Malaysia signed a memorandum of agreement with Empta to promote road safety and reduce wildlife roadkill through collaboration with transport and logistics companies.
