SANDAKAN: A total of 500 turtle cages were given to the management of the Turtle Islands Park (TPPP) to help protect and conserve the turtles around Bakungan Kecil, Selingan and Gulisan Islands, near here, recently.
These 500 turtle cages are the result of fundraising from various sponsors amounting to RM75,000 which was undertaken by 10 Master of Business Administration (MBA) students from the Graduate School of Business, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM-GSB).
The fundraising is a turtle conservation initiative for the important species in the marine ecosystem which is increasingly endangered.
The main sponsors consist of the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda), FGV Holdings Berhad, Felda Investment Corporation Sdn.Bhd. (FIC), Felda Foundation, Malaysian Kuwaiti Investment Co Sdn Bhd (MKIC) and Eng Huat Latex Concentrate Sdn Bhd.
Funds were handed over to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sabah Parks during the handing over ceremony and the Inauguration of Volunteer Activities of the Turtle Legacy Programme: ‘Tekad Bersama Memulihara’ (The Legacy of Turtles: Everyone’s Commitment to Conservation).
Felda Chairman, Dato’ Sri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, officiated the ceremony at a hotel here, recently. He said Felda is committed to supporting any programme for environmental sustainability.
“Felda is not only about oil palm, but also about maintaining a healthy environment.
“Make this commitment one of the important policies in Felda. We must be sensitive about what happens to the environment,” he said.
Ahmad Shabery said Felda had previously been involved in conservation programmes involving wild animals such as tapirs and honey bears.
For the record, he said the turtle conservation programme also received attention from the Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS), Sabah Parks Board of Trustees, Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network Asia Headquarters (UNSDSN Asia) hosted by Sunway University and the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia (Jupem).
Meanwhile, a group of students involved in the programme known as “The Ocean Guardian” also carried out awareness activities and campaigns with 20 volunteers to channel information to the public about the importance to protect and conserve turtles, especially in Sabah.
UKM Deputy Dean (Academic), Dr Mara Ridhuan Che Abdul Rahman, said as one of the leading research universities in Malaysia, UKM is not only committed to providing quality education but also plays an important role in supporting the country to achieve the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals.
