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SHAH ALAM - A ghost net buyback scheme will aim to remove abandoned fishing nets from Malaysian waters, as leatherback turtles return to nest in Terengganu for the first time since 2017.
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the initiative was part of the government’s efforts to protect marine life and strengthen wildlife conservation under 2027 Budget, which he tabled in Parliament, today.
“We celebrate the return of leatherback turtles to the shores of Terengganu to nest and lay their eggs, for the first time since they were last recorded in 2017.
“To protect our marine treasures, a ghost net buyback scheme will be introduced to ensure that abandoned fishing nets are no longer left behind to endanger marine life,” he said.
The Prime Minister also announced that ageing public sewage systems on Pulau Tuba, Langkawi, Redang Island and Tioman Island would be urgently upgraded.
He said the government will also allocate RM65 million to deploy 2,500 community rangers drawn from the Orang Asli community, army veterans and retired police personnel to support conservation efforts.
A further RM15 million from the palm oil cess will be channelled towards protecting endangered wildlife, including tigers, elephants and orang utan.
The initiatives are part of the government's efforts to protect Malaysia's marine ecosystems, biodiversity and natural heritage.
