PETALING JAYA - With a new pair of giant pandas expected to arrive in Malaysia on Nov 18, Zoo Negara in Selangor has completed renovation works at its panda conservation centre as preparations intensify to welcome the latest Malaysia-China "ambassadors".
A check at the zoo on Nov 16 found the Giant Panda Conservation Centre closed to visitors, with its enclosure having undergone renovation since October.
Zoo Negara deputy president Rosly Rahmat Ahmat Lana confirmed that the works had been completed but declined to elaborate, saying only that preparations were "in order".
The pandas' imminent arrival follows the renewal of Malaysia's long-standing panda loan programme with China.
Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Huang Tiong Sii told Parliament earlier that the collaboration continues to reflect the "strong bilateral ties and shared conservation goals" between both countries.
The programme was extended under a new 10-year agreement signed on April 16 during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Malaysia.
A source familiar with the arrangements said the giant pandas are scheduled to land in Malaysia on Nov 18 before being placed under a mandatory month-long quarantine.
Their public debut is expected either in January or February 2026, depending on their adaptation and veterinary clearance.
Another source said the caretaker previously attached to Fu Wa and Feng Yi - the first pair of pandas loaned to Malaysia in 2014 - will likely not be continuing his role with the incoming pandas.
The caretaker, Mr Akmal Hadi Samsuddin, affectionately known as "nanny daddy" (nai pa) among panda enthusiasts, earned widespread affection for his dedicated care of the animals over the years.
Mr Akmal and his team looked after Xing Xing and Liang Liang, as Fu Wa and Feng Yi were known in Malaysia, with their cubs Nuan Nuan, Yi Yi and Sheng Yi.
However, there has been no official announcement on whether he will be assigned to the new pair, with zoo officials expected to make an announcement later.
Media reports earlier suggested that the incoming pair may be Chen Xing and Xiao Yue, although Malaysian authorities have yet to confirm this.
Even so, anticipation has been building among panda fans nationwide, many of whom say they have been waiting eagerly since the departure of the previous pair.
When Fu Wa and Feng Yi first arrived in 2014, they represented more than two charismatic animals - they symbolised four decades of Malaysia-China friendship.
Their presence drew huge crowds; in their first year alone, with Zoo Negara recording more than a 60 per cent surge in visitor numbers, with over 1.2 million people flocking to see them munch bamboo, wobble about their enclosure or relax in hammocks. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK