WWF-Malaysia has said fewer than 150 Malayan tigers remain in the wild, with the national animal threatened by poaching, the illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss, forest fragmentation and declining prey.
PETALING JAYA: The fight to save the Malayan tiger has found an unexpected canvas at Stadium Merdeka, where 36 young Malaysian artists are using drawings, illustrations, photo imaging and sequential art to turn preservation efforts into a public project.
Their works form the 9th MyTIGER Values Art Competition and Exhibition (MTVACE) 2026, organised by Maybank Foundation in partnership with Kakiseni, after the competition drew 3,213 submissions from 341 schools and learning institutions nationwide.
The exhibition, open to the public until June 7, honours young winners from primary schools, secondary schools and universities, while continuing to include participants from the Persons with Disabilities community and students under the Education Ministry’s Integrated Special Education Programme.
READ MORE: Malaysia’s Malayan tiger population nears extinction with under 150 left
It also links Maybank’s TIGER values – Teamwork, Integrity, Growth, Excellence and Efficiency, and Relationship Building – with wider themes of sustainability, empathy and tiger preservation.
The theme carries urgency beyond the exhibition hall. WWF-Malaysia has said fewer than 150 Malayan tigers remain in the wild, with the national animal threatened by poaching, the illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss, forest fragmentation and declining prey.
Maybank Foundation chairman Tan Sri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa said the competition has grown into a platform for students and youth to become advocates for the survival of the Malayan tiger.
“As we broaden our efforts from protecting tigers in the wild to inspiring action within our communities, MTVACE has evolved into a meaningful platform for students and youth to become advocates.
“Through the power of art and storytelling, we are nurturing a generation that not only values creativity, but also understands its role in driving preservation awareness, empathy and collective responsibility for our natural heritage,” he said.
Maybank Group chief sustainability officer Datuk Shahril Azuar Jimin said the programme showed how art could connect values with emotion, purpose and action.
He said the works reflect the ability of young Malaysians to respond to environmental and social issues through creativity, rather than treating sustainability as a distant or abstract subject.
“Through this programme, we are empowering young creatives to become advocates for a more sustainable and compassionate future, one that reflects the aspirations of Maybank Group’s ROAR30 strategy and its social impact mission in driving positive change across communities.
“The works showcased here reflect the strength of the next generation to lead with empathy, creativity and conviction, while inspiring greater awareness and collective responsibility towards environmental conservation and social progress,” he said.
University category illustration first-prize winner Amelia Mimie Michael, 26, from TVET Mara Rembau, said the competition pushed her to see art as more than personal expression.
“This competition challenged me to look beyond art as just a form of expression, and instead use it as a voice for change. Interpreting themes such as climate action and integrity through sequential art pushed me creatively and personally, and strengthened my purpose as a visual storyteller that could inspire greater awareness and empathy through my work.”
Primary school first-prize winner Tan Zhi Qi, 10, from SJK(C) Foon Yew 1, said her drawing was meant to show that children also had a role in protecting nature and the Malayan tiger.
“My drawing is a visual pledge for a more sustainable and caring future, in which people work together to protect animals, forests and our shared heritage.
“Through this competition, I learned that even small actions and ideas can create a big impact, and I hope my artwork encourages more young people to care for the world around us,” she said.
Winners received first, second, third and jury special prizes, sharing RM55,500 in cash awards. Visitors to the exhibition may also contribute to tiger preservation efforts through MaybankHeart, Maybank’s crowdfunding platform, in collaboration WWF-Malaysia.
The competition is part of Maybank Foundation’s Balai Seni Art Series, an arts and culture initiative that the foundation said has reached more than 6,300 art beneficiaries through over 40 exhibitions and intiatives since 1988.
The exhibition is open daily from 10am to 5pm at Stadium Merdeka, with no bookings or tickets required.
