Shafie orders thorough probe on elephant deaths
KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Mohd Shafie bin Haji Apdal, wants action to be taken to protect wildlife in Sabah after the deaths of six Borneo pygmy elephants over a space of a month.
Shafie said that if real measures had been taken to check on humanelephant conflict, as well as other issues including poaching, the death of these endangered gentle giants of Sabah with one as young as a year old, would not have occurred
“I understand from news reports that the cause of deaths of these elephants since early April and May 20 had yet to be established.
“I want the Sabah Wildlife Department to conduct a thorough probe on these deaths and take necessary and appropriate action to stop more of such unnecessary deaths that endanger our wildlife,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Shafie stressed that Parti Warisan Sabah government is committed to the preservation and conservation of Sabah's wildlife and natural resources.
“I am aware much has been said and perhaps done by the past government. However, the deaths of the elephants, whether by poaching or other causes continue unabated.
“Perhaps, the previous government did not have the political will to push through more drastic actions that would affect big logging companies and plantations? I don't know why it still occurs after so many claims of solutions from the previous government,” he said.
Stressing that he does not want lip service, the Chief Minister said he wants to see short and longterm conservation plans drawn up to be implemented on a fast track basis. He said the Warisan government will facilitate such efforts and not bow down to pressure from any groups.
“Here, I want to see the Sabah Wildlife Department and Sabah Forestry Department work closely together towards protecting the wildlife and forests. They should also work with NGOs in fast-tracking forest corridors without fear of business interest of individuals. I believe that the network is there for the implementation but there has been little will in the past to push it through,” he said.
Shafie said he is directing state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Christina Liew to immediately get a briefing on the situation and see how best to fast-track all necessary efforts to protect our wildlife.