PUTRAJAYA: The government will fully cooperate with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on the investigation involving the transfer of three Asian elephants from Taiping Zoo to Tennoji Zoo in Osaka, Japan.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup (pic), who disclosed this, said the principles of transparency, accountability and rule of law in all aspects of the country’s wildlife management will be upheld.
“The ministry is prepared to provide full cooperation to the authorities throughout the course of the investigation to ensure that the process is completed thoroughly and transparently,” he said in a statement yesterday, Bernama reported.
Arthur said the ministry would not compromise or shield any party if any misconduct, irregularity or breach of procedure in relation to the transfer of the elephants, named Dara, Amoi and Kelat or DAK, was proven.
He said this is important to safeguard the integrity of relevant institutions and the country’s reputation at the international level.
On Monday, the MACC confirmed that it had opened an investigation into the transfer of the three elephants following allegations of leakages and irregularities in the process.
On June 18, wildlife rights group Hak Asasi Hidupan Liar Malaysia called on the MACC to investigate the transfer of the elephants to Japan.
It also alleged that certain payments related to the transfer were not channelled to the government and linked several individuals to transactions estimated to be worth RM53mil.
