KUALA LUMPUR: The Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science and Plantation Industries has proposed a site visit to Japan to assess the condition of three Asian elephants transferred from Taiping Zoo and Night Safari to Tennoji Zoo.
The 12-member committee, chaired by Kuala Terengganu MP Datuk Ahmad Amzad Mohamed @Hashim, said the proposed inspection was aimed at independently evaluating the welfare of the elephants - Dara, Amoi and Kelat, collectively known as DAK - following growing public concern over their relocation.
"The committee views this matter seriously and believes this step is important to ensure any decisions made afterwards are grounded in accurate information and capable of restoring public confidence," it said in a statement Thursday (April 14).
The statement said the committee had also held a meeting at Parliament on Monday (May 11) with a delegation from the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, led by deputy secretary-general (Natural Resources) Datuk Mas Rizal Mohd Hilmi.
Also present at the meeting were officials from the Wildlife and National Parks Department Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan), led by director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim, alongside representatives from the Plantation and Commodities Ministry, the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, and the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry.
"During the meeting, the Natural Resources Ministry and Perhilitan outlined the chronology of the transfer, legal compliance procedures, logistical safety measures and the facilities prepared for the elephants at Tennoji Zoo.
"The committee was also briefed on the health and welfare of the animals and had taken note of the comprehensive explanations provided by the authorities," the statement read.
However, the committee said further details were still required, including a review of the agreement between Taiping Zoo and Night Safari and Tennoji Zoo to better understand the obligations of both parties.
The committee also thanked all ministries and agencies involved for their cooperation in supporting Parliament's oversight role.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup had previously said the elephants' transfer to Japan on March 10 was part of a long-term conservation plan initiated more than a decade ago under an agreement between Taiping Zoo and Tennoji Zoo.
The relocation sparked mixed reactions on social media, with many users expressing concern over the elephants' welfare and ability to adapt to a new habitat. - Bernama
