IN a bid to reduce collisions involving wildlife and humans along one of Malaysia’s most hazardous roadways, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) has launched a strengthened initiative in collaboration with WWF-Malaysia and the Selangor and Federal Territory Engineering and Motor Parts Traders Association (EMPTA).
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook confirmed that the multi-stakeholder partnership would focus particularly on the Gerik–Jeli stretch of the East–West Highway (Jalan Raya Timur Barat, or JRTB), a notorious route where elephants, tigers, and tapirs have repeatedly lost their lives in traffic incidents.
Speaking after a meeting with both NGOs, Loke said, “This collaboration includes public awareness campaigns, driver education, and the upgrading of road infrastructure, all aimed at ensuring road safety and environmental sustainability.”
As part of the newly signed Letter of Acceptance (LoA), the ministry and its partners will implement targeted strategies to mitigate the rising death toll of endangered wildlife, while reducing risks for motorists.
“The JRTB is more than a state connector—it is a vital migratory corridor for wildlife, especially species on the brink of extinction such as the Malayan tiger,” said Loke.
The renewed urgency comes in the wake of two major tragedies. On 11 May, a five-year-old elephant calf was killed by a container lorry. Less than a month later, a tour bus carrying university students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) crashed on the same route, claiming 15 lives. Both incidents sent shockwaves across the nation and prompted scrutiny of road safety measures on the highway.
In response, the Ministry of Works allocated an additional RM55 million for upgrades to the stretch, including the installation of 385 solar-powered streetlights.
A field researcher who recently travelled to Rancangan Penempatan Semula (RPS) Kemar in Gerik shared, “The highway is not only essential for human travel, but also deeply entrenched in wildlife movement. You cannot pass through without encountering signs of this dual usage.”
The issue extends beyond the highway. Indigenous leaders from the Belum–Temengor region say the presence of wild elephants near their villages has become a decades-long ordeal.
Arof Botak of Kampung Katong and Abu Bakar Ali of Kampung Ralak, both Tok Batin at RPS Kemar, recounted their experiences. “We haven’t had a peaceful night’s sleep in 40 years,” said Arof. “Elephants search for food in our yards. If they see a human, even without provocation, they can turn aggressive.”
Some villagers have been seriously injured, and others killed, after being trampled or gored.
Local voices are now calling on the government to extend safety measures beyond the JRTB. “The safety of residents in the Belum–Temengor landscape must also be prioritised,” they said, suggesting the creation of a vast protected zone for wildlife, inaccessible to poachers and safely distanced from human settlements.
They also propose the construction of concrete barriers between wildlife habitats and residential areas. “This will protect both parties—humans will no longer fear wild animals, and the animals can search for food without interference,” one elder remarked.
While acknowledging the commendable efforts already made, they urged further attention to strategies that balance human safety and ecological preservation.
“It is clear the government and NGOs are serious. But to achieve a true win-win solution, more proactive, long-term strategies must be implemented,” one community member added. - August 17, 2025
