Move to amend Wildlife Conservation Act timely, says activist
The government’s decision to amend the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 is timely in view of the rampant poaching that threatens protected species.
Animal welfare activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the number of wildlife species had been declining due to poaching and illegal deforestation.
“We need to have a more comprehensive and stricter law to deter the culprits as the rise of social media and online trading portals has worsened the situation.
“The (government) previously proposed a shoot-on-sight policy against wildlife poachers in a move to protect Malayan tigers.
“However, I believe the authorities should first focus on introducing a deterrent punishment by amending the law before resorting to such a harsh move.”
It was reported that Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar had expressed concern that tigers might be extinct in less than 10 years.
He said the ministry was amending the act to imprison poachers for more than 10 years and fine them up to RM5 million upon conviction.
The amendment to the act is expected to be tabled by year end.
Lee, however, said protecting wildlife was not the sole responsibility of enforcement agencies.
“Protecting wildlife and our nature’s treasure trove is not only the responsibility of the enforcement agencies.
“It requires collaboration across non-governmental organisations, the government, corporate stakeholders and local communities.
“We must take action to conserve our biodiversity, which includes more than 15,000 species of flow- ering plants, 1,500 species of terrestrial vertebrates and 150,000 species of invertebrates.
“We should not allow other species to face the same fate as the Sumatran rhino, which is already extinct, or the fate of the leatherback turtle, Malayan tiger and gaur, which are in danger.”
Lee said efforts to protect wildlife were in line with the theme for this year’s Earth Day celebration, which was “Protect Our Species”.
“It aims to educate and boost awareness about the rate of extinction of various species of fauna and flora.
“Greater public awareness, and better law enforcement and political will are needed to prevent poaching, illegal wildlife trade and over-exploitation of natural resources.”
On Thursday, the Kuala Terengganu Sessions Court fined two Vietnamese citizens RM1.56 million for poaching.
Hoang Van Viet, 29, and Nguyen Van Thiet, 26, were each sentenced to two years’ jail after being convicted of 20 charges for illegal possession of threatened and protected animal parts.
Following the sentence, a Zoo Negara expert proposed for the introduction of the death penalty or life imprisonment for those found guilty of poaching tigers.