Veteran conservationist Shah Redza Hussein has stepped down as chief executive officer (CEO) of the Malaysia Forest Fund (MFF), effective 1 January, to focus on conservation projects on the ground.
To continue reading, subscribe to Eco‑Business.
There's something for everyone. We offer a range of subscription plans.
- Access our stories and receive our Insights Weekly newsletter with the free EB Member plan.
- Unlock unlimited access to our content and archive with EB Circle.
- Publish your content with EB Premium.
Shah Redza announced his decision to leave the federal government agency, which is tasked with channeling financing towards forest conservation, protection and management in Malaysia, in a LinkedIn post.
He cited ministerial bureaucracy and the slow pace of its officials as key reasons for his departure.
MFF was established in June 2021 under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) to implement a global financing mechanism known as the REDD+ Finance Framework at the national level.
Shah Redza succeeded former MFF chief Jeffri Abd Rasid and has held the position since January 2025.
In the LinkedIn post, Shah Redza said he declined the extension of his employment contract by the board for another year as he prefers working on projects on the ground where there is less bureaucracy.
“At a certain age, you don’t have the luxury of time. For me personally, I need my efforts to show impact in the shortest possible time. MFF is an awesome organisation doing very important work for the nation; however, it is a government agency that is tied to the bureaucracy of the ministry and the pace of its officials,” he said.
When contacted, MFF confirmed to Eco-Business that Shah Redza’s tenure as CEO concluded on 31 December 2025 and that the post remains vacant. The team is currently reviewing resumes from potential candidates.
“The appointment of the next CEO will be announced once the decision has been finalised,” it told Eco-Business.
With more than 30 years of industry experience, Shah Redza was tasked with supporting MFF’s efforts to finalise and roll out the Malaysian Forest Carbon Offset (FCO) protocol last year.
Before joining MFF, Shah Redza led Enggang Management Services, a conservation firm established in 2022 to manage environmental initiatives in the state of Pahang.
During his tenure, he played a key role in setting up the 142,000-hectare Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve and overseeing efforts to rehabilitate roughly 110,000 hectares of peatlands in the state.
He also served as a director at the Perak State Parks Corporation, which manages the 117,500-hectare Royal Belum State Park in northern Peninsular Malaysia.
In 2020, he received the Dr Rimington Award for his work in tiger conservation at the park, including strengthening ranger patrols and establishing the Indigenous community-based wildlife patrol unit, Menraq.
