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OCBC Al-Amin commits RM35,000 to Malayan Tapir conservation efforts at Zoo Negara

OCBC Al-Amin commits RM35,000 to Malayan Tapir conservation efforts at Zoo Negara

  • 26 Apr 2022

In conjunction with World Tapir Day 2022 tomorrow (27 April), OCBC Al-Amin Bank Berhad (OCBC Al-Amin) has renewed its commitment to the conservation efforts of the Malayan Tapir at Zoo Negara through a RM35,000 contribution.

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Zoo Negara Malaysia Deputy President Encik Rosly@Rahmat Ahmat Lana (left) handing over a certificate of appreciation to OCBC Al-Amin CEO Tuan Syed Abdull Aziz Syed Kechik (centre) at the Malayan Tapir enclosure at Zoo Negara. Looking on is OCBC Bank CEO Dato’ Ong Eng Bin (right)

This follows the Bank’s sustained support of the endangered species at the Zoo since the start of the pandemic in 2020.

OCBC Al-Amin is the wholly-owned Islamic banking subsidiary of OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad (OCBC Bank) (collectively, OCBC Malaysia).

The funds, which are a combination of contributions from the Bank and the CEOs of both OCBC Bank and OCBC Al-Amin, will be used for maintaining the Malayan Tapirs’ annual food provision, enrichment and veterinary care including the upkeep of the exhibit area.

Speaking at an informal visit to Zoo Negara, OCBC Al-Amin CEO Tuan Syed Abdull Aziz Syed Kechik said OCBC Malaysia has been involved in sustainability and conservation efforts for several years now, and is increasingly looking at fauna alongside its flora-related activities.

“OCBC Al-Amin has entrenched itself in sustainability efforts over the years, providing best-in-class products and services with a strong focus on Value Based Intermediation (VBI) and green financing. But we have always looked to go well beyond the business side of things and to complement our tree-planting conservation efforts. The renewal of our sponsorship for the conservation of this endeared and endangered Malayan Tapir is testament to our quest for a more holistic approach to ESG,” he said.

Also present at the visit was OCBC Bank CEO Dato’ Ong Eng Bin. According to Zoo Negara Malaysia Deputy President Encik Rosly@Rahmat Ahmat Lana, the sponsorship is timely following the country’s move to transition to the endemic phase where care continues to be necessary for all the animals.

“We are thankful for this renewal of sponsorship by OCBC Al-Amin. This symbolises the strong and caring nature of our corporates when they take a long-term view in the direction of improving the conditions of endangered species.

“Zoo Negara Malaysia is more than just home to hundreds of animal species; it is also a conservation centre for endangered and vulnerable wildlife. We take part in conservation efforts to improve and preserve any vulnerable species of wildlife. Zoological parks play an important role in preserving biodiversity, on top of educating the general public about these threatened species. And we hope that in this transition to endemicity phase more will come forward and support these conservation efforts,” he said.

The Malayan Tapir is classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, which means the population trend of the Malayan tapir is decreasing in the wild and facing a high risk of extinction. Also known as the Asian or Malay tapir, these largest of the world's tapirs are threatened by hunting and forest fragmentation in this region. Despite that, the Malayan Tapir population in Malaysia and Southern Thailand is considered the most resilient and stable.


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