Malaysia’s Knights in Green Armour

In Malaysia's ancient rainforest, where the canopy teems with more species than you can count in a single glance, Amlir Ayat sees an entire hidden world. “In one square meter, you may find 30 species of plants that you can see,” he reflects. “Not to mention all those that you cannot see, the microscopic ones.”

These diverse environments, from coastal mangroves to mountain forests, harbour countless undiscovered species. “We have different ecosystems - marine, mangrove, lowland forest, hill forest, mountain forest. Each has different compositions of flora and fauna, and I think we've only studied about 1% of what we have in Malaysia.”

“When I was young, I liked watching ‘The Wild, Wild World of Animals’ on TV,” he chuckles, sharing his childhood passion for conservation. A British Lutheran nun from his neighbourhood nurtured this early interest, sharing books and teaching him nature observation. “She loved watching birds, pressing leaves, pressing flowers, and even collecting rocks. At night, we'd watch stars and try to identify constellations in the sky.”

After studying zoology, Amlir pioneered Malaysia's first urban community-based river conservation project with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). “At that time, there were no projects focusing on conservation or sustainable management of rivers,” he recalls. “When I was in university, it was all about technical stuff, but now I had to work with people.”

This hands-on approach to learning defines EcoKnights' work. “Education is one of the most important solutions,” he shares. “In Malaysia, you have a lot of people who understand the issues, but the challenge is how to motivate them to be committed, to do the right thing.”

EcoKnights operates across four pillars - public outreach, rehabilitation and conservation, sustainability communications, and youth development – transforming environmental awareness into action through engaging, practical programs.

Their flagship Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival (KLEFF) reaches over 5,000 people annually, featuring more than 80 environmental films each October. The festival has become Malaysia's longest-serving creative platform for promoting sustainable living, combining screenings with interactive workshops.

In schools, EcoKnights creates tangible impact. Students develop organic gardens from cafeteria waste, establish second-hand outlets, and learn river conservation through hands-on projects. “We want to provide education in a fun manner,” Amlir explains, his eyes lighting up.

“When I became the judge, I was amazed,” he says, recalling the incredible students who presented their environmental projects at KLEFF.  Where did they get this information? I don't even know this information... they give the figures and all this new technology and how to do recycling in a better way.”

The impact extends beyond classrooms. Working with Malaysia's Sea People (Orang Laut), EcoKnights demonstrated how environmental initiatives uplift marginalised communities. Through corporate partnerships, they provided health education and sustainable living skills.

And some English skills, too. “The kids were very interested... they managed to improve their English, which was something very amazing for these children.”

However, alongside Malaysia's stunning microscopic biodiversity exists a story of heartbreaking loss. “We have 2,000 millimetres of rainfall every year. We have a lot of water,” he explains. “But why do we have water problems? Because of mismanagement.”

Even abundance becomes scarcity without proper stewardship.

The destruction of tropical rainforest weighs heavily on Amlir’s mind. Pristine forests make way for vast palm oil plantations, resulting in devastating consequences: landslides, water pollution, and irreversible damage to ecosystems. “Even though we might get billions of Ringgit for our forest resources when you lose even one per cent, you cannot put a value on that,” he reflects. “The social cost - the loss of houses, properties, and most importantly, lives - who is going to pay for that?”

“When you have floods, it doesn't affect only Malays or Chinese or Indians... It affects everybody. So we have to work together,” Amlir emphasises.

And EcoKnights is serious about uniting communities across cultural lines with initiatives like the Bunus Fun Walk for River and mangrove restoration, EcoKnights. Unity has become a hallmark of their work as they bring together students, corporations, and communities in collaborative conservation efforts.

What keeps him motivated after years of facing environmental challenges? “If you cannot achieve the best things, then perhaps the next generation will achieve them. I don't want the next generation to say, 'Why didn't you do this?' You know, I don't want them to curse me on my grave.”

Amril’s goal for EcoKnights reflects this dedication to the future, envisioning an organisation known for motivating people to be wiser in how they use natural resources.

“Think wisely, use only what you need in the amount needed,” he advises. For him, this extends beyond conservation - it's about the journey of change itself. “The destination is the journey. It's not about where you want to go but the path you are taking.”