PUTRAJAYA : Zoo Negara needs to discuss with the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry first if they plan to send Nuan Nuan, the cub of panda couple Xing Xing and Liang Liang, to China.

Its minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the Zoo Negara management has yet to approach the ministry to discuss the high maintenance cost in caring for Nuan Nuan.

“According to the agreement between Malaysia and China, the government has the right to keep Nuan Nuan for a maximum of two years from the day it was born.

“However, there is no minimum period, meaning that the panda cub can be sent to China anytime.

“However, Zoo Negara should have not made their decision without referring the matter to the ministry. If they have problems, they need to approach us,” he said after attending the ministry’s monthly assembly and the ‘Fly the Jalur Gemilang’ programme.

Wan Junaidi said the issues would be brought to the cabinet after the discussion between Zoo Negara and the ministry takes place.

“Before the zoo management issues a press statement, they should have talked to us first.

“The panda cub will only be sent to China if the cabinet agreed with the decision,” he said.

On Tuesday, Malaysian Zoological Society president Datuk Seri Zaharin Md Arif said Zoo Negara has no plans to extend the period to keep Nuan Nuan, due to the high maintenance cost.

He said the zoo management needs to pay a one-off rental cost amounting to US$600,000 (RM2.4 million) for the panda cub, which does not include its annual insurance premium of RM200,000.

Zoo Negara Zoology and Veterinary director Dr Mat Naim Ramli said that if the period for keeping Nuan Nuan was extended, the cost of maintenance and separation space should be taken into consideration.

Malaysian had received the panda couple, previously named Fu Wa (male) and Feng Yi (female) on May 21, 2014, to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China.

Nuan Nuan was born on Aug 18, last year.

-New Straits Times