Abu Dhabi: Pahang and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed an agreement to establish a strategic collaboration to protect the critically endangered Malayan tigers. The Crown Prince of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, announced that the project would be implemented at the Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve, a 1,340-square-kilometre sanctuary adjacent to Taman Negara, Pahang.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the RM99.8 million project, funded by the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, will focus on the conservation of the tiger species, natural habitat restoration, and local community development. One of the key priorities of this project is addressing major threats such as poaching and habitat destruction, thereby combatting the decline of the Malayan tiger population, which is now on the brink of extinction.

Tengku Hassanal emphasized that the project symbolizes a commitment to protecting nature's heritage for future generations. He expressed hope that through unity and collective efforts, habitats will be restored and the survival of the species in its natural habitat will be ensured. These remarks were made in a statement shared on the Pahang Royal Family's Facebook page after the Crown Prince attended the strategic partnership signing ceremony between Pahang and the UAE.

The ceremony, which was part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, was graced by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed. The agreement was signed by Enggang Holding chief executive officer Tengku Datuk Aiman Putra Tengku Kamal Bahrin and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) president Razan Al-Mubarak.

Tengku Hassanal further mentioned that the collaboration reflects Malaysia's and the UAE's deep concern for environmental sustainability, marking a new chapter in global efforts to protect endangered wildlife.