I would like to praise our government for reacting positively to the seriousness of wildlife poaching and trading in our country. The proposal of mandatory jail sentences, whipping, enhanced jail terms and heavier fines is definitely the first step in the right direction in a long journey to conserve and protect our precious inheritance the flora and fauna of our 130 million year-old rainforest.

Nevertheless, the lack of heavier penalties under the current Wildlife Protection Act 1972 should not hamper justice from being served.

According to current wildlife protection laws, wildlife killers could be slapped with a maximum punishment of five years in jail and fined RM15,000. Instead, a tiger poacher who was caught in Kelantan recently was merely fined RM7,000 for the atrocious act.

I urge the attorney-general to appeal for a higher penalty.

The father of the poacher had publicly admitted the he indeed agreed and stored the butchered tiger for a sum of RM1,500 paid by alleged Thai poachers. An illegal transaction has been admitted and made public. Again, I urge the AG's Chambers to open a fresh investigation against the father.

The carcass was left with the father by the very same poachers whom he claimed to be "hunter friends" from Jeli. Apparently, a Thai towkay was due to pick up the butchered tiger later. I urge the authorities to investigate this matter and press charges against these perpetrators.