JOHOR BAHRU: The Johor government said that there would be no compromise on tiger poaching activities that threaten the sustainability of the Malayan tiger, a highly valuable and protected national treasure.
State Health and Environment Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said Johor will strengthen law enforcement, enhance intelligence, and monitoring in areas identified as high-risk to combat poaching and the wildlife trade.
He said his side will urge the public to continue to work together with the government by reporting any information related to illegal hunting to the relevant authorities, thus safeguarding the interests of biodiversity treasures that are a trust for current and future generations.
"The state government highly appreciates the cooperation of the Bukit Aman Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) and the Johor Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) through Operation Khazanah Bersepadu, which led to the arrest of three men, aged 28 to 29, based on public information.
"The three suspects were arrested after the carcass of a Malayan tiger (Panthera Tigris Jacksoni) was found in a Perodua Alza car in Felda Tenggaroh, Mersing yesterday. The carcass had serious injuries believed to be from a trap, and there were six gunshot wounds to the head as the cause of death," he said in a statement on Wednesday (Sept 17).
Ling added that along with the suspects, the authorities also seized several pieces of evidence with a total estimated value of RM294,007, adding that the suspects are now remanded under Section 70(2) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716). - Bernama
