KKR and NRES strengthen collaboration to protect wildlife amid human-animal conflict

THE Ministry of Works (KKR) and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) have agreed to reinforce their collaboration to protect the nation’s wildlife, following a recent incident involving a young elephant’s death along the East-West Highway (JRTB) in Gerik.

Minister of Works, Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi, said human-wildlife conflict was a key topic during discussions between the two ministries, which were also attended by NRES Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

“This issue comes in the wake of the recent death of a baby elephant on the Gerik-Jeli East-West Highway (JRTB). Both ministries have agreed to further strengthen cooperation in protecting wildlife,” Bernama cited said Nanta saying in a statement shared via Facebook.

He emphasised that under KKR’s purview, technological applications in road infrastructure would be expanded to support this goal.

Highlighting the need for synergy between both ministries, Nanta said: “This partnership is crucial to ensuring that national infrastructure development can be carried out transparently, efficiently, and sustainably, without neglecting the interests of the people and the environment.”

Among other issues discussed were land acquisition, road reserve (ROW) areas, and land leasing along highways—matters that require thorough coordination between KKR and NRES.

“KKR is responsible for planning, maintaining and developing road infrastructure as well as managing ROW to ensure comfort and safety for road users,” he said.

“At the same time, leasing land along highways for development purposes falls under the joint regulatory scope of KKR and NRES,” Nanta added.

NRES, he noted, plays a critical role in managing, gazetting and approving land use, in addition to preserving natural resources, land ownership matters, planning permissions, and environmental sustainability.

Earlier, the Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) confirmed that the Perak Elephant Sanctuary (PES) project along the JRTB, first announced in 2020, is expected to be completed by 2030. The RM40 million proposal was submitted to the Economy Ministry on 6 May.

“If everything goes smoothly, I think this sanctuary can operate as early as 2028, but for the infrastructure facility to be fully completed, perhaps 2030 is a more realistic target,” said Perhilitan director Yusoff Shariff.

He added: “With the availability of such a facility, it will reduce human-elephant conflicts at JRTB.”

Perhilitan recorded 4,919 human-elephant conflict complaints between 2020 and 2024, with losses amounting to RM39.4 million.

On the viability of existing mitigation efforts, Yusoff said the 200-metre viaduct built in 2015 for RM26 million at KM157 of the JRTB has proven useful, but its effectiveness is limited to elephants in that specific area.

“The viaduct only helps on a small scale and is only used by animals inhabiting that area. So, we feel that the setting up of a sanctuary will provide greater safety assurance for both road users and elephants at the JRTB,” he said.

He did not dismiss the possibility of constructing more wildlife crossings along the route, should dedicated funding be allocated. - May 22, 2025