PULIHARA is a non-profit organisation duly registered with the Registrar of Societies on 13 December 2023 under the name Persatuan Pemuliharaan dan Kajian Marin Malaysia (Marine Conservation and Research Organisation Malaysia) bearing Society No. PPM-004-10-13122023.
We were previously operating under Lang Tengah Turtle Watch (LTTW), a well-known entity within the conservation circle. To ensure more efficient business operations, and to be able to benefit from tax exemption accorded under the Income Tax Act 1967, the LTTW Directors decided that the conservation arm of the organisation be placed under a non-profit organisation. Full transition took place on 1 March 2024 when the conservation arm of LTTW began operating under PULIHARA.
Despite this transition, the core team members and project locations remain unchanged. We are committed to continue with the conservation efforts that were previously carried out under LTTW with the same dedication, commitment and focus.
Operational from March 2024, PULIHARA builds upon the conservation projects initiated and developed by Lang Tengah Turtle Watch (LTTW). Founded in 2013 by Hayati Mokhtar and Raphe van Zevenbergen, LTTW set out with determination — to stem the flow of turtle eggs destined to be sold at market for human consumption. Establishing responsible tourism initiatives along the way — serving as platforms to engage a wider audience and support their work — LTTW’s conservation scope also grew to embrace the exploration of forests and restoration of reefs. Seeking to inspire and inform the public as far as possible, extensive programmes were launched conducting outreach, education and research.
Running until 2024, LTTW safeguarded 264,302 turtle eggs from human consumption, of which 208,657 were successfully hatched; out-planted 405 corals back onto degraded reefs; removed 19,753.25kg of rubbish from the beaches and reefs; and interacted with many thousands of citizens, both locally and around the globe. LTTW’s drive, partnerships and conservation legacy endures through PULIHARA — continuing to protect endangered marine species and ecosystems with practical conservation, research, outreach and community engagement.
The establishment of PULIHARA signifies a pivotal moment in our journey towards achieving greater impact and excellence in our conservation endeavour. We grow by strengthening our foundation, enabling us to make a more significant difference in marine conservation. By leveraging on our available resources, expertise and network we will be able to enhance our potentials and capabilities, thus empowering us to create a meaningful change and leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
Rahayu has had a diversified career in various sectors ranging from private legal practice, TV broadcasting, oil and gas, wildlife conservation and certified sustainable palm oil. Due to her passion for conservation, she accepted the offer from the Founders to lead the organisation and agreed to return to the beach, as it were. Rahayu is responsible for the overall direction of the organisation, identifying funding requirements and sources, budgetary planning, ensuring timely project implementation, and aligning human capital with the organisation’s goals. With a background in conservation and various leadership positions she had previously held, she hopes to lead the organisation into becoming an employer of choice for marine conservationists and researchers in the country. Rahayu is also a certified Mediator but doesn’t suffer fools gladly.
Hiew graduated from Kagoshima University, Japan, in Fisheries Management. He started his career as a Fisheries Officer with the Department of Fisheries, Malaysia in 1973. Hiew was the State Fisheries Director for Melaka and Negeri Sembilan from 1989 – 1992, and for Johor from 1992 – 1994. Hiew was later appointed as the Head of Marine Park Division from 1994 and was in charge of conservation and protection of marine habitats and species, including sea turtles. Hiew retired from government service in 2001. His contribution to conservation continued after retirement when he joined WWF-Malaysia from 2001 – 2014 where he was mostly responsible for marine conservation, fisheries resources management and also conservation and protection of marine species, especially sea turtles. For all his hard work and dedication, Hiew received the Edward T LaRoe III Memorial Award at the 2019 International Congress for Conservation Biology in Kuala Lumpur. In 2010, he was awarded the WWF International Award for Conservation Merit for his commitment to conservation of marine species and habitats in Malaysia and around the region. He also received an award from by WWF-Philippines in 2000 for his work on sea turtles. Hiew is also a Trustee in the Board of Trustees of Reef Check Malaysia, an NGO working on Conservation of Marine Habitats.
Mother of 3 grown up sons and a dog, her baking abilities are unparalleled. Able to crunch figures the way she crunches the cookies. She is undoubtedly a pleasant personality who can soothe away your confusion and worries.
Allen Jeyarajasingam has been interested in natural history as a child and picked up birdwatching in 1968 at the age of 9. He has contributed numerous articles and papers in nature magazines and journals in Malaysia and abroad. A school teacher by profession, Allen used to teach English at a government boarding school in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, until his retirement in 2019. He is a member of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and sits on the Bird Conservation Council of the society. He served as chairman of the council from 1999 – 2002 and was also chairman of the Records Committee from 1998 – 2005. He was one of the editors of the Council’s Bimonthly Bulletin ‘Suara Enggang’ (Voice of the Hornbill). He has co-authored ‘Birds –A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore’ and ‘A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore’.
Allen is also passionate about environmental education.
Preetha Sankar is an Advocate & Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya and the sole proprietor of her legal firm Preetha Sankar & Co. She is an environmental lawyer primarily focusing on Environmental & Natural Resources based Law and Policy oriented work.
She has been involved in the environmental conservation arena both in the advocacy and consultancy capacity for almost 20 years.
She was a previous member of the Bar Council’s Environmental and Climate Change Committee and a Chevening Fellow. She was also a columnist for the Sun Daily for 3 years writing both critical and constructive opinions on environmental issues.
Preetha in her practice focusses on drafting of environmental and natural resources law, developing policy frameworks, rendering of legal opinions and providing other technical legal and policy assistance across a number thematic areas such as Protected Areas, Wildlife Protection, Carbon Finance & Projects, Forest Protection, Environmental & and Biodiversity governance related issues.
Dylan is the co-founder of Nature Based Solutions, a start-up that focuses on the development of green financing for the biodiversity conservation in Peninsular Malaysia, and Sunda Shelves, an independent bookstore specializing in books and merchandise related to the natural history of Malaysia and the surrounding Sundaland biogeographic region.
Dylan has been involved in biodiversity conservation and natural resource management efforts at all levels across Malaysia for over 20 years. He has played a key role in developing important national policies and plans, including the National Physical Plan, Central Forest Spine (CFS) Masterplan, Heart of Borneo Project Framework, East Coast Economic Region (ECER) Blueprint and the National Policy on Biological Diversity 2022-2030. Dylan also provides technical support to protected area management authorities around the country. Amongst other things, he has contributed towards the formulation of management plans for Taman Negara National Park, Kenyir State Park and the Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve.
For over a decade, Zalina’s conservation and research career has taken her from dense jungles to stunning coral reefs. Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Cardiff University, Zalina’s journey began with protected area conservation at WWF-Malaysia, where she studied the faunal diversity of the Ulu Muda forest in Kedah through camera trapping and advocated for its preservation. Zalina’s experience at WWF has profoundly influenced her approach to conservation advocacy and shaped her outlook on working for non-governmental organizations. Apart from this endeavour and a short-lived ambition of becoming an astronomer while in primary school, Zalina’s true passion has always been marine biology, however. She has since embraced this calling and is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Aberdeen, studying population distributions of sharks and rays in Sabah, in partnership with the Marine Research Foundation.
As the Research Coordinator for the Sea Turtle Research Unit at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Zalina’s fascination with sharks led her to spend more time catching and tagging reef sharks than sea turtles at the Chagar Hutang turtle nesting site on Redang Island. This was no surprise, however, as it aligned with her research for a Master’s degree in Marine Biology, which explored the diets of blacktip reef sharks and their predation of turtle hatchlings.
Even though Zalina’s time being attached to the South African Shark Conservancy and working in primate rehabilitation at the International Primate Rescue Centre in South Africa are among the highlights of her career, Malaysia’s marine biodiversity, the allure of its coral reefs and her passion for diving, continuously pull her back home. When not deeply engaged in PhD research, Zalina enjoys traveling or unwinding with crosswords, seeking a balance between her professional and personal life.
Liew Hock Chark, born in Penang, Malaysia, is a retired Associate Professor of Marine Biology from the Department of Marine Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. An aquatic science graduate from Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, he obtained his Masters (in Marine Biology) at James Cook University, Queensland, Australia in 1984 under an Australian Development Aid Bureau (ADAB) scholarship.
Very much a marine biologist, being well seasoned at sea, participating on numerous cruises and as a qualified PADI Divemaster. He is thus known, both locally and abroad for his scientific contributions in the broad field of marine biology especially on sea turtles, marine fish larvae, sea-horses and coral reefs. He has jointly published numerous articles in journals, books, proceedings, magazines, newsletters and reports on marine sciences and conservation related fields. He has conducted biotelemetric work to track the movements of adult, juvenile and hatchling sea turtles together with nesting and foraging turtle conservation related sciences. He has also served as resource personnel or expert in local, regional and international meetings and workshops for sea turtles and coral reef related topics.
He was the co-founder of the Sea Turtle Research Unit (SEATRU) at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu that operates a sea turtle research, conservation and volunteer programme since 1993 at Chagar Hutang, Pulau Redang in Terengganu. He was one of the recipient of the Global 500 Roll of Honour by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2001 in recognition for “outstanding environmental achievements” in sea turtle research and conservation. His work in sea turtle research and conservation has been featured in both local and foreign TV and news media.
Liew’s interests goes beyond turtles as his diving have brought him to conduct surveys and studies on coral reefs and other endangered species like seahorses. He has participated in numerous environmentally related consultancies for the Department of Fisheries, Petronas, Shell, Exxon-Mobile and various other institutions. He is an active veteran member in the Malaysian Nature Society, Terengganu Branch.
Mother of 3 grown up sons and a dog, her baking abilities are unparalleled. Able to crunch figures the way she crunches the cookies. She is undoubtedly a pleasant personality who can soothe away your confusion and worries.
Meet Najmi, a Marine Biology graduate from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu and a former intern with PULIHARA (formerly known as Lang Tengah Turtle Watch). His passion for marine conservation runs deep, fueled by hands-on experience in sea turtle conservation, coral reef monitoring, and educational outreach during his time with the organization.
While at PULIHARA, Najmi played an active role in volunteer engagement, conducted briefings, led weekly beach and underwater cleanups, and supported daily operations at the conservation site. This experience not only broadened his understanding of ecosystem preservation but also highlighted the importance of community-driven efforts in protecting our oceans.
Driven by the belief that “The Earth doesn’t belong to us—we belong to the Earth,” Najmi remains committed to advocating for a healthier, more sustainable marine environment.
With a heart for the ocean and a soft spot for coral reefs, Zarifah has been actively involved in marine conservation since graduating with a degree in marine biology from UMT. She started off as an intern at Tengah Island Conservation (TIC), where she got hands-on with coral surveys, turtle work, and more. Later, she joined a dugong conservation project in Pulau Sibu, Johor, working as a research assistant and outreach coordinator.
Those experiences shaped her foundation in both research and community engagement—two things she continues to carry with her today. Now based on Lang Tengah Island as an Outreach Officer, she’s continuing her journey—learning, connecting, and growing through every tide and task.
Working on fungal diversity of green turtle nest sites back in Univesiti Sains Malaysia, Isandra spent much of her time learning in-depth about sea turtle ecology. After her short stint with LTTW in 2020, Isandra went on to work with sea turtles in Tioman. She returned as the Co-Manager in 2019 and is now the Project Manager in charge of running all the operations at Tanjong Jara.
With ample experience in sea turtle conservation, she brings with her a fun-loving and meticulous take on fieldwork that is sure to bring joy to everyone around her. She can safely conclude that the turtles actually do not carry four elephants and a disc Earth on its back!
Audrey’s passion for the ocean led her to pursue Marine Science at Universiti Malaysia Sabah. She has an absolute love for all things turtles, so best believe that you will find her waist-deep in the hatcheries most of the time. Audrey kicked off her conservation journey with us as an intern in 2022.
In 2023, Audrey returns as the other half of the managerial team and is responsible for overseeing the groundwork at Tanjong Jara. Her return signifies a deepening commitment and a desire to make a tangible difference in preserving the marine ecosystems, particularly those vital to the survival of beloved sea turtles.
Born and raised in Terengganu, Wid vividly recalls the countless family trips to the beach where they witnessed the leatherbacks crawling up to their nest. Driven by her childhood recollections, Wid decided to pursue her studies in Marine Science and focused on sea turtle photo-identification research during her undergraduate studies.
Her interests include not just sea turtle conservation but also capacity-building and community engagement to ensure a more holistic conservation approach. Her knowledge and passion led her to become the Project Manager at the Perhentian Turtle Project before she moved on to Malaysian Nature Society EcoCare as its Education Officer. With the expansion of conservation efforts at Chakar Hutan, Wid became the Manager of the Chakar Hutan project site in 2022 and has remained since.
Growing up by the beach in a state which having Leatherback Turtles as their icon, Nusrat never had the chance to meet one. Nusrat saw her first sea turtle at 10 during a school trip to Fishery Research Institute in Rantau Abang back in 2012, not knowing that she’ll be involve in sea turtles conservation after 11 years. Driven by her love towards the ocean and her lineage as the great granddaughter of a fishermen, she pursued her studies in Aquatic Resource Science and Management in Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).
Nusrat had involved in sea turtles conservation since 2023 as an intern at Tanjong Jara Resort under Lang Tengah Turtle Watch, and continue as one again the next year after graduating at the same project site under PULIHARA. Nonstop curiousity towards marine biology brought Nusrat to PULIHARA team as Hatchery Liaison Officer at Chakar Hutan, apart from leveraging her bubbly personality to engage with the local community about the conservation.
Syahida, a USM graduate in Applied Biology (Aquatic), began her journey into marine conservation during her internship with PULIHARA Malaysia, formerly known as Lang Tengah Turtle Watch. That early experience, working closely with sea turtles and learning the realities of field conservation, sparked a deeper commitment to protecting marine
ecosystems.
She now works as a field assistant with PULIHARA Malaysia at Pantai Chakar Hutan, Kerteh, where her responsibilities range from monitoring turtle nesting activity to supporting local outreach and conservation efforts on the ground. The work is hands-on, unpredictable, and often ends with her covered in sand or salt, but it’s exactly the kind of challenge she enjoys. She believes meaningful conservation should be rooted in science, driven by community, and grounded in empathy.
Amira is a graduate from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), majoring in Zoology. Her journey in wildlife conservation began in 2022 when she joined PULIHARA (back then known as Lang Tengah Turtle Watch) as an intern at the Tanjong Jara Resort Project Site.
After graduating, Amira briefly explored another field before realising that her true passion lies in wildlife conservation. Thus, she returned to PULIHARA as a Field Assistant at Chakar Hutan Project Site, where she supports the site’s daily conservation efforts. As a returning team member, Amira recognize that each PULIHARA project site has its own colours offering different challenges and opportunities to grow.
