Mandatory jail terms and whipping will be among harsher penalties proposed for poachers in the Wildlife Protection and Conservation Bill 2005.

Natural resources and environment ministry parliamentary secretary Sazmi Miah told a press conference at the Parliament lobby today that this would replace the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, which he described as "not good enough".

"The Act is not effective because it was enacted more than 30 years ago. Due to its inefficiency, poachers are not afraid of the authorities," he said.

Sazmi explained that the law only provides for a fine or jail term at present.

The new legislation will provide for a fine and jail term to be imposed together. For serious offences, whipping will be imposed.

The legislation has been drafted and is expected to be tabled in Parliament next March after public views are gathered, he added.

In justifying the need for more effective legislation, Sazmi cited the public furore over the killing of a Malayan tiger in Kelantan.

The endangered animal had been butchered and kept refrigerated ostensibly ready for export, but the perpetrator - Ang Chun Tan, 22 - got off with a fine of RM7,000 last week.