The disgraceful revelation  of a convicted trafficker’s return to his old ways that brought shame to Malaysia  has surely shocked and angered many Malaysians who want this venal man to pay dearly for the suffering he has caused to countless animals for wanting to live a life of luxury.

Anson Wong’s past conviction and imprisonment had not convinced Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) that he would change. SAM had this deep-seated fear that he would be back to his old ways as we hold firm to our belief that a leopard will never change its spots. And true enough our worst fears were confirmed with the revelation by Al Jazeera which had also put potential e-traffickers of illegal wildlife on notice that their nefarious activities will not be tolerated.

Top shadowy characters use sophisticated means to carry out their activities without soiling their hands, and they constantly adapt tactics to avoid detection and prosecution making national borders increasingly irrelevant. Their  links to people in power make it impossible to bring them to court with concrete evidence.

Though his licences for sale and possession of wildlife had been revoked, he continues to operate with no trace of his activities. People like Wong believe that the law is there to be flouted not just that he believes it is all right to flout the law, but it has become an ingrained habit.

Malaysia’s push for better wildlife laws and enforcement would be useless if this is how convicted wildlife traffickers are allowed to continue operations without an intense scrutiny into their other businesses by the authorities. SAM has often questioned how it remains business as usual for illegal wildlife traders in the country.

There is this question of how this blatant and illegal trade can continue if not without the approval of people in high places. No one should be under any illusions that the revocation of permits will put an end to his notorious ways. For getting a slap on the wrist without severe penalties imposed, there is a tendency for such malaise to continue. This would surely have a long-term impact on the fight against wildlife crime.

The gravest mistake is when no investigations were conducted into the business contacts or associates of Wong upon confiscation of his laptop and mobile phones  by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC).

It brought unanswered questions as to why  no business contacts or associates of Wong were ever identified or charged. It gives the implication that the authorities were keeping their eyes closed with the intention to protect the trafficker implicated in the trade.

This episode has attracted much public  attention and has become a matter of great public and international concern. Hence there needs to be a sense of urgency in tackling the  investigation into how he can still conduct his business.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, Customs and police should establish a special unit to investigate the business dealings of Wong and his wife, relatives  and his close associates. Instead of investigating separately they should go down to the ground together as a team, as a cohesive unit.

This blatant and illegal trade by one as powerful as Wong must be put to an end before species at imminent risk of extinction become totally extinct.

SM MOHAMED IDRIS is president, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM).