He said that while responding generously to those affected, the nation must also be bold in its renewed efforts to address the underlying causes.

He urged Malaysians to continue working together to safeguard the environment and reduce the negative effects of climate change.

“This is vital not only for our continued prosperity but also for our very survival,” he said in a message in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia.

Sultan Nazrin said that for the past 50 years, WWF Malaysia had played a key role in helping Malaysia to rise to the environmental challenges faced by the nation.

“WWF Malaysia has provided advice and information on conservation matters to the government and has advocated tirelessly for the conservation of biodiversity.

“Together with its staff, supporters and the environmental community, more broadly, WWF has helped to protect more than 1.3 million hectares of forests and seas from the threat of conversion,” he said.

He believed that organisations such as WWF Malaysia would continue to be at the forefront of these efforts, for the next 50 years and beyond.