Officers in cahoots with illegal traders to be weeded out

PETALING JAYA: The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) will undergo a shake-up to weed out officers who are in cahoots with illegal wildlife traders.

The department has been dogged with allegations of corruption among its enforcement officers following the arrest of infamous wildlife trader Anson Wong recently.

Natural Resources and Environ­ment Minister Datuk Douglas Ug­­gah Embas said this was among the measures being taken to plug loopholes and enhance enforcement in the department, which had come under fire from conservationists.

“We have set up an internal au­­dit. We are reviewing the standard operating procedures, legislation and departmental structure,” he said.

Asked if Perhilitan officers had been helping illegal wildlife traders, Uggah said: “Those are some of the issues we are looking at.

“We do not condone anyone who breaks or fails to enforce the law. We will take stern action.”

Uggah, who acknowledged that illegal wildlife trade was a very lucrative business, urged the public to come forward if they had evidence of such collaboration so that action could be taken.

He said experts and non-governmental organisations would be brought in as part of the process to review current procedures in the department.

The ministry, particularly Perhilitan, had been heavily criticised following Wong’s arrest for trying to smuggle out 95 boa constrictors without a permit.

Wong, who was caught at the KL International Airport on Aug 26 while on transit from Penang to Jakarta, was sentenced on Sept 6 to six months’ jail and fined RM190,000 by the Sepang Sessions Court.

Many groups, however, were unhappy with the sentence. Wong had previously been sentenced to 71 months’ jail by the United States for illegal wildlife trafficking.

The Attorney-General’s Chambers has since appealed against the sentencing for the latest offence.

Following Wong’s arrest, the Penang National Park and Wildlife Department director was reportedly transferred to another state effective Oct 1.

International magazines such as National Geographic had highlighted Malaysia in their articles as the so-called “hub” for illegal wildlife trafficking.

Uggah said the ministry was working with several agencies, including Rela, the military, police and Maritime Enforcement Agency, to strengthen enforcement against illegal wildlife trade.

“We want to identify the poachers’ hotspots and the outlets they use to illegally bring in and out animals. We are accused of being a hub but if you study carefully, we are not,” he said.

Tougher action, Uggah added, would be taken against those who operated zoos without a licence to prevent these from being used as a front for wildlife trade.

“Currently, there is no law that allows us to license zoos. Thus, our zoos are operating without licences.

“The new (Wildlife Conservation) Act will empower us to license zoos so that it adheres to international zoo standards. If we are not happy with any zoo, we can close it down,” he said, adding the Act was expected to be gazetted and enforced by year-end.

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