Malaysia is planning seriously to increase the stay of giant pandas Xing Xing and Liang Liang at Zoo Negara, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has revealed. Datuk Seri Anwar conveyed he will encounter Chinese President Xi Jinping as soon as both pandas are due to be given back. “I will take it up with the Chinese government, specifically President Xi Jinping, to see if there is a mechanism to increase the period of the panda staying in Malaysia,” he conveyed. “Knowing (the) excellent rapports between (our) two nations, I am rather positive that they will give due consideration to support our proposal,” conveyed Mr Anwar.
He was speaking at Zoo Negara’s 60th anniversary celebration on Jan 27. Also present were Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Huang Tiong Sii, Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari, Zoo Negara deputy president Rosly Lana and Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing. When asked about the high maintenance of the two pandas, Mr Anwar said Xing Xing and Liang Liang had become an attraction that many Malaysians look forward to. “We don’t pay for the pandas, just the maintenance.
If we notice, several people visit the zoo to get the view of the pandas since Malaysians can afford to visit China to see giant pandas,” he revealed. “For some Malaysians, locating them (the pandas) here is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said. He said that whilst the pandas need high upkeep, “we are considering the advantages for zoo visitors”