Army Personnel Suspended

Why would a hunter left a dead hornbill after shooting it? Do you think a poacher dare to shoot near army camp? If it was a poacher why didn't the army track down the poacher? There are too many unanswered questions. I just don't believe it. But can you spot the spin?

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Sunday April 3, 2011 MYT 4:50:38 PM Five army personnel suspended for slaughtering hornbill

SHAH ALAM: Five army personnel, including an officer, who slaughtered a great pied hornbill and posed with the dead animal, have been suspended from duties, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

He said the personnel would also be charged under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

The picture of them posing with the slaughtered bird, allegedly taken at the Royal Belum State Park in Perak was published in the local media recently and made its way online, drawing criticisms from environmentalists.

Ahmad Zahid said investigations showed that the bird, a protected species in Malaysia, had been shot by a hunter.

"The bird fell to the ground and upon seeing the dying bird, they slaughtered it," he told reporters after attending a family day at a theme park, here Sunday.

Ahmad Zahid said although the army personnel were not the ones who shot the hornbill, they should have tried to save it. - Bernama

Severe Penalties To Stamp Out Poaching

October 07, 2010

IPOH, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- Illegal wildlife traders and poachers will face stiffer penalties when the new Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 is gazetted and enforced by year-end, said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas.

The act was amended from the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 to stamp out illegal wildlife trading and poaching, he told reporters after opening the Department of Environment's Vehicle Smoke Testing Centre here Thursday.

Under the new act, poachers or those who keep endangered species of animals can be fined up to RM500,000 (up from RM5,000 before) or imprisonment, he said.

The Wildlife and National Parks Department has established an inter-agency cooperation with the Customs, army, People's Volunteer Corps, Orang Asli Affairs Department and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to curb wildlife smuggling.

BERNAMA

New Act to provide greater protection for wildlife

March 26, 2010
Star

PETALING JAYA: The proposal to repeal the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and replace it with a new act for greater protection of wildlife will presented to the Cabinet for approval today.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas said once it was approved, the Wildlife Conservation Bill would be tabled in Parliament.

“The proposed act has taken feedback and recommendations from relevant parties in the Government and non-governmental organisations, into consideration,” he said in a statement after the launch of the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) research gallery in Kepong yesterday.

He said under the Bill, the penalties provided for crimes have been increased by between 10 to 30 times besides mandatory jail sentences for serious offences.

The new act, he said would also provide better enforcement on wildlife derivatives to prevent them from being used for traditional medicine.

“Under the existing Act, protection is limited to mammalians, reptiles, birds and insects while the new act will also provide protection to amphibians (frogs), arachnids (spiders) and gastropods (snails).

“It will also provide wider powers on new activities such as circuses and exhibition of wildlife,” he said.

He added that the new act would also cover the issue of invasive alien species which contribute to the extinction of local wildlife. The existing act was last amended in 1998.

Half-Past-Six

What do you expect from a HPS judiciary? Pay and you will be off the hook. Everyone knows about this except the MACC. Welcome to Bolehland.

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Mycat: Most wildlife culprits roaming free

Wednesday February 17, 2010

Star


PETALING JAYA: A conservation group wants the Attorney-General’s Chambers to treat cases of cruelty to wildlife with importance and urgency.

The Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers (Mycat) noted that perpetrators of previous cases involving cruelty to animal had walked away free after paying paltry fines.

“This includes a man who was found guilty of illegal possession of a dead tiger five years ago. The tiger had been butchered and stored in his freezer,” said Mycat programme coordinator Loretta Shepherd.

“For that offence, he paid a fine of RM7,000 and walked out a free man.

“Compare this to the case involving the theft of 11 cans of Tiger beer and Guinness Stout worth RM70 in January this year, where a man was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.

“Clearly our values are misplaced.”

Seven orang asli are currently being investigated for brutally killing a male tiger in the Bukit Tapah Forest Reserve in Perak two weeks ago.

While the incident has angered many Malaysians, Shepherd voiced concerns that they too might only receive a slap on the wrist.

The Protection of Wild Life Act 1972 provides for a maximum sentence of five years’ jail and a RM15,000 fine for killing a tiger.

NGOs: Enact wildlife laws quickly

Dec 17, 2009
Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: As the Year of the Tiger approaches, impassioned calls are being made to the government to sharpen its legal claws for greater protection of wildlife.

Already, three non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have called for a stronger and more comprehensive wildlife law.

The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), TRAFFIC Southeast Asia and WWFMalaysia want the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 to be amended at the next Parliament session.

In a joint statement yesterday they noted that the legislation, meant to protect wildlife against domestic threats like poaching, had failed to be a deterrent.

Instead, the legislation continued to allow wildlife criminals to escape justice, it said.

Nevertheless, the statement acknowledged that the government had addressed part of the problem, with the coming into force of the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008 in a week’s time.

“However, Malaysia also needs a strong legislation to combat wildlife crimes that occur inside the country.

“Amending the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 must be made a priority if our wildlife is to stand a chance,” said MNS executive director Dr Loh Chi Leong in the statement.

Meanwhile, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia acting director Chris R. Shepherd said only powerful tools such as strong legislation could enable the authorities to combat wildlife crimes effectively.

The three organisations urged the government not to delay the tabling of the law any further and hoped that all parties would give it the support it sorely needed. — Bernama

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Calls for tougher wildlife law
Alyaa Alhadjri
Sun2surf

PETALING JAYA (Dec 16, 2009): Wildlife organisations have called for the amendments to the Protection of Wild Life Act 1972 to be passed at the next meeting of Parliament to ensure tougher measures to combat wildlife crimes in the country.

The campaign, led by Malaysian Nature Society, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia and WWF-Malaysia, has received the support of 56,062 people from 161 countries.

Current legislation is considered inadequate for defending wildlife against domestic threats like poaching, and wildlife criminals continue to escape justice.

Part of the problem is being addressed with the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008 which will come into force in a week’s time.

"This new law, which governs the import and export of wildlife, is timely. However, Malaysia also needs a strong legislation to combat wildlife crime that occurs inside the country," MNS executive director Dr Loh Chi Leong said.

"Therefore, amending the Protection of Wild Life Act 1972 (Act 76) must be made a priority if our wildlife is to stand a chance," said Loh.

TRAFFIC Southeast Asia acting director Chris R, Shepherd said only with strong legislation will authorities be able to effectively combat wildlife crimes.

Petition to amend the Protection of Wild Life Act 1972

Since Malaysia loves to use ISA. Why not use it on smugglers? Smugglers are threat to national interest. Our natural heritage being destroyed. So ISA them, what say you Botak?

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JOINT PRESS RELEASE
28th September 2008
Malaysian Nature Society
TRAFFIC Southeast Asia
Wildlife Conservation Society
WWF-Malaysia

Better Law for Wildlife in Malaysia
Petition to amend the Protection of Wild Life Act 1972

Petaling Jaya, Selangor – Today, the world celebrates International Tiger Day, a celebration of the tiger in its wilderness. While we celebrate its strength, beauty and perseverance, today also presents the ideal opportunity to mark our commitment to save the Malayan tiger

Currently, tigers and other wild animals in Peninsular Malaysia are protected by the Protection of Wild Life Act 1972. This 35-year-old law is severely outdated and riddled with loopholes.

There is a serious need for the Malaysian government to remedy the loopholes and beef up the law, as many species continue to be poached and illegally traded at alarming rates. Wildlife
offenders often escape arrest, prosecution and punishment.

We understand that the government is in the process of revising this law. However, we urge the government to seek public input in this process.

Examples of amendments needed; i)That all products containing or claiming it contains parts of totally protected species to be made illegal; ii) That mandatory jail sentences and stiffer fines
are imposed for serious wildlife offences.

Help us reach the target of 100,000 signatures for our Malayan tigers. Your voice to this petition will make a difference, for tigers and other wildlife in Peninsular Malaysia.

Sign this petition at www.petitiononline.com/MYLaw/petition.html

222 endangered lizards rescued

Just can't understand how on earth that, "The six-man team had arrived at the plantation on Thursday and were monitoring the area before carrying out their operation on Saturday night". Three Days of monitoring but "NO ARRESTS were made"!
Can you imagine how efficient our wildlife custodians?

NSTONLINE
2008/04/07
By : T.N. Alagesh

MARAN: A total of 222 endangered clouded monitor lizards (biawak tikus), believed to be destined for the cooking pots in exotic meat restaurants overseas, were rescued at Seri Jaya here on Saturday.

The 8pm seizure at a palm oil plantation here was carried out by enforcement officers of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan), led by district Perhilitan chief Sharil Apindi Ahmad.

The six-man team had arrived at the plantation on Thursday and were monitoring the area before carrying out their operation on Saturday night.

It is learnt that the lizards would usually be held captive in the plantation, which acted as a stop-over spot, for several days before being sent overseas.

State Perhilitan director Saharudin Anan said early investigations revealed that the lizards were obtained from the Orang Asli who lived nearby and Indonesians who worked in the plantation.

"They sell the lizards to a middle-man for between RM3 and RM5 a kilogramme.

"The lizards are usually high in demand. They are considered a delicacy and also believed to heal several illnesses," he told the New Straits Times.

This was the second biggest haul by the state Perhilitan after they seized 5,400 lizards of the same species two years ago at the Batu Tiga jetty near here.

It was reported that the lizards were meant to be sold in Hong Kong.

Saharudin said Perhilitan had never issued a licence to hunt the clouded monitor lizard as it was categorised as an endangered lizard along with the Harlequin monitor lizard (biawak serunai) and Dumeril's monitor lizard (biawak kudung).

"We only issue licences to hunt water monitor lizards (biawak air)," he said.

No arrests were made in the raid as those responsible for capturing the lizards were believed to have made their escape.

Perhilitan, however, will despatch its enforcement officers to patrol the area more often to nab the culprits.

Those caught can be charged under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 which carries a fine of not more than RM5,000 or three years in prison, or both.