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Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is concerned that the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has delayed the enactment of the proposed amendment to the Wildlife Act.

The amendments are necessary to prevent and combat the illegal trade in wild animals, plants and terrestrial fauna as well as to improve enforcement against poaching and other wildlife crimes. It should also accord wider coverage to more species that are in danger of becoming threatened.

Some wild populations of species, such as rhinoceroses and tigers are literally on the brink of extinction and the high value of wildlife products makes illegal trade extremely profitable, generating millions of dollars each year. Organised crime groups are associated with this trade and the wildlife law enforcement community faces daily challenges including poaching gangs, threats, harassment and bribery attempts.

The new act should review the legal framework to prevent and control wildlife crime, identify threats and networks, examine the main drivers of supply and demand and look at factors enabling trafficking and how to counteract them.

SAM is also concerned with the potential problems on the introduction of non-native or exotic species of birds and animals into native ecosystems. The Act should address these concerns to curb and prevent alien species from invasion of the environment.

SAM also looks forward to legislation on the protection of wildlife in captivity be it zoos or wild animal parks and other such establishments. This was mooted in 1997 but after the initial enlightened proposal however, nothing has materialised to date.

While details of the Act have yet to be disclosed to the public, SAM hopes it will be in accordance to internationally recognised standards assuring wildlife in captivity of a new lease on life and enhanced standards of dwelling similar to their habitat and conducive to their growth and well-being.

The need to strengthen the act by introducing suitable changes and stringent measures is long overdue. Long judicial procedures and paltry sums as penalty do not help to nab this problem of wildlife crime. At the same time the introduction of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Wildlife department, the Customs and Excise Department’s anti-smuggling unit, the State Forestry Department and the state governments to ensure effective wildlife conservation and strengthening of border areas to prevent crime should also be seriously considered.

The Wildlife Protection Act should stand as one of the broadest and most comprehensive forces in the federal arsenal to combat wildlife crime. With increasing activity in international and domestic wildlife trafficking, the Act must evolve to become an important weapon to protect animals domestically and abroad.

The writer is president, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM).

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