They said it showed a lack of commitment to preserving forests, adding that spending more to counter climate change should have been a top priority.

Ecotourism and Conservation Society of Malaysia founder Andrew Sebastian said the sum put aside was “puny” as the rate of deforestation to make way for a man-made landscape was alarming.

He said that while new laws being mooted to protect the Malayan tigers were laudable, the government’s current financial commitment was not enough to save the tigers from extinction in the next 50 years.

Andrew said that with more forests being cleared for concrete jungles, more zoonotic diseases will inevitably infect the human population.

“RM450 million is not enough to fulfil sustainable programmes and boost efforts to preserve our natural heritage and ecotourism,” he said.

Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia (Peka) president Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil said the budget lacked concrete measures to protect forests.

She said money to protect water supply from contamination was also nowhere to be seen, when it was a vital issue affecting many people.

“I feel the budget is a touch-and-go thing. It is the same thing year-in, year-out, and there is nothing serious about environmental protection of our wildlife, rivers, mountains and forests,” she said.

Shariffa said there was also no funding for the upkeep of recreational forests, citing the Lentang recreational forest in Bentong, Pahang, which was once popular but has been closed due to neglect and disrepair.

Environmentalist Anthony Tan said the carbon neutrality target by 2050, as espoused in the budget, was admirable but should be made into law.

He said the promotion of electric vehicles was a “hugely positive step” in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.