KUCHING (Oct 17): World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia) has lauded the government's move to incorporate an environmentally-friendly tunnel into the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR) project, describing it as a milestone that balances development with conservation.
WWF-Malaysia senior conservation director Dr Henry Chan said the initiative, which will see the first road tunnel built in Sarawak, demonstrates the federal and state governments' commitment to sustainable and innovative infrastructure development.
"This shows that development and environmental protection can advance hand-in-hand. The tunnel route minimises hill cutting, reduces travel distances, and provides safer wildlife crossings," he said in a statement today.
Dr Chan said the tunnel, which will be constructed in Limbang, could help prevent wildlife roadkill incidents -- such as the case of a baby elephant killed along the Gerik-Jeli Highway last May.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof had announced on Oct 11 that the SSLR project would include a road tunnel as part of efforts to reduce the route distance from 14 or 20 kilometres to around seven kilometres, while preserving the natural terrain.
Dr Chan noted that the project aligns with Malaysia's global sustainability commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and Sarawak's Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030.
He stressed the importance of incorporating environmental safeguards such as wildlife crossings, erosion control and ecological monitoring into the project's planning and implementation stages.
"By integrating environmental considerations into national infrastructure, Sarawak is advancing goals related to climate action, resilient infrastructure and biodiversity conservation -- ensuring progress benefits both communities and ecosystems," he added.
Citing government data, Dr Chan said Malaysia recorded 66,825 human-wildlife conflict complaints between 2020 and December 2024, with damages and biodiversity loss valued at about RM46.5 million.
He urged all parties involved in the SSLR project to ensure the tunnel's sustainability not only during construction but throughout its lifespan.
"Where possible, research and monitoring should be conducted to assess avoided environmental degradation and wildlife movement. Such studies would provide valuable insights for future infrastructure planning," he said.
Dr Chan added that WWF-Malaysia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Works and Aurecon Group, had introduced initiatives such as the Green Roads and Highway: Protecting Biodiversity training module in 2023 and the Green Budgeting Checklist in 2024 to promote wildlife-friendly infrastructure.
He said WWF-Malaysia is ready to offer technical expertise to ensure future linear infrastructure projects in Sarawak continue to support both development and habitat connectivity.
"With Sarawak leading by example, the state is showing that development and conservation can indeed go hand-in-hand," he said.