KUCHING: WWF-Malaysia applauds the government and Bank Negara for highlighting Malaysia’s rich biodiversity on the latest series of banknotes put into circulation on July 16.
A press release from Petaling Jaya said the latest series of bank notes, themed ‘Distinctively Malaysia’ which features the nation’s iconic natural wonders and its flora and fauna reflects the government’s initiative in wanting to create a sense of ownership towards our rich natural heritage.
WWF-Malaysia hoped that this positive move will lend weight to efforts aimed at protecting the natural heritage and in safeguarding the biodiversity and species showcased in the new banknotes.
The species and biodiversity showcased are the Kinabalu Park in Sabah and the limestone pinnacle rock formations of Gunung Api valley in Mulu National Park Sarawak on the RM100 note, the Rafflesia Azlanii species on the RM10 note, the rhinoceros hornbill on the RM5 note as well as the hawksbill and leatherback turtles on the RM20 note.
“We would like to point out in particular, the selection of hawkbills (Eretmochelys imbricata) and leatherback
turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) for the new RM20 banknote, which clearly epitomises the government’s acknowledgement of these majestic marine species.
“Both of these species are listed as critically endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s
(IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species,” the press release said.
It also said that over the last 20 years, there has been a 99 per cent decline of leatherback turtles and there are only two remaining nesting population of hawksbills of significant size in Malaysia in the Sabah Turtle Islands and in Melaka with approximately 400 to 600 nestings annually in each state.
Hawksbill populations in Terengganu, Johor and other states have declined by more than 60 per cent. Two critical actions that should be taken for the conservation of these endangered species are – a nationwide ban on the sale and consumption of turtle eggs and protection of their nesting beaches, the press release said.
It said the federal and state governments should implement these two actions as soon as possible in order to lend credence to Malaysia’s position as one of the mega diverse countries in the world.This is besides ensuring that turtles are on the bank notes as a celebration of their presence in our waters and on our shores, and not as a remembrance for those that have departed.