ENVIRONMENTAL WARNING SIGNS
Tourism is a vital economic engine for Malaysia, contributing about 15 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product. It is also Malaysia’s biggest employer, hiring about 4 million people or about 20 per cent of the labour force.
But focusing too much on tourist numbers can strain local infrastructure, harm fragile ecosystems and lead to long-term environmental damage. This approach is shortsighted, especially in the face of escalating global warming and environmental degradation.
Malaysia’s ecosystems are already under immense strain from climate change and human activity. Floods, deforestation, mangrove disappearance and wildlife poaching are just some of the issues plaguing the country.
For instance, Malaysia has lost 50 per cent of its mangrove cover over the past decade due to illegal logging, aquaculture and pollution. Mangroves are not only critical carbon sinks but also natural barriers against flooding and tsunamis. Their destruction has left coastal communities vulnerable to rising sea levels and extreme weather events, which are becoming increasingly frequent due to global warming.
In 2024, severe floods displaced about 140,000 in Malaysia, highlighting the country’s growing vulnerability to climate change. Last month, over 10,000 people were evacuated in Johor due to severe floods.
Deforestation is another pressing issue. Malaysia has one of the highest rates of forest loss in the world, driven by timber and palm oil plantations, logging and urban expansion. Between 2000 and 2023, the country lost 31 per cent of its tree cover, according to Global Forest Watch.
This has had devastating consequences for biodiversity, including the near-extinction of iconic species like the Malayan tiger, whose population has plummeted from 3,000 in the 1950s to fewer than 150 today. Poaching and habitat destruction continue to threaten other wildlife, such as orangutans and pygmy elephants, further eroding Malaysia’s natural heritage.
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