KUALA LUMPUR: Imagine Malaysia having a national football team called Harimau Malaya, but there are hardly any Malayan Tigers left in the country's forests.
Such a grim scenario haunts the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS), and the FA of Malaysia (FAM).
Alarmingly, there are fewer than 150 Malayan Tiger, a sub-species of the Panthera tigris, left in the wild, its population decimated due to various reasons, including poaching.
FAM, who are also trying to make their jersey-wearing Harimau fiercer in competitions, have announced they will work with KBS on a Malayan Tiger conservation initiative.
The initiative, which will also involve the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, will use football, via the national team who are also known as Harimau Malaya, to save the Malayan tiger.
Towards this goal, FAM decided on Monday that one ringgit from every ticket sold for the national team's matches will go towards the Malayan Tiger conservation project.
FAM president Datuk Hamidin Amin said the Malayan tiger, which is an iconic Malaysian symbol, is facing extinction.
"This is an important mission for FAM and KBS in the Malayan tiger conservation. Every time we go out to play and watch football, we contribute to the survival of every Malayan tiger."
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said: "Harimau Malaya is an icon and is the sacred nickname of the national football team. We don't want that one day it becomes a mere mascot or a slogan without wild tigers in our forests.
"If the species becomes extinct, the soul of sustainability of this country will fade and it will be meaningless for our national team to be nicknamed Harimau Malaya.
"I urge young football supporters to show the same enthusiasm in the Harimau Malaya conservation. This effort is in line with the Malaysia Madani approach which stresses sustainability.
"The KBS, through the Rakan Muda programme, will help with the noble initiative."