I have to agree with all the letters previously published here urging the Malaysian Wildlife Department (Perhilitan) to help nine elephants currently held at the A’Famosa Resort in Malacca.

I am sure people all over the world are deeply shocked that Perhilitan appears to still be refusing to apply the law against A’Famosa Malacca for the resort’s alleged cruel treatment of these elephants despite it being publically exposed by the Malaysian NGO, Friends of the Orangutans (Foto).

As a supporter of the campaign, I am aware that the evidence has been submitted to the department in the form of photos and video. The images depict elephants hidden from the public eye and apparently chained for long hours whilst surrounded by their own faeces.

Before the zoo was exposed by Foto all the elephants were also reportedly not provided with water to drink or spray themselves to keep cool in the hot Malaysian weather. That is when they are not being made to perform in degrading shows, night parades and have to offer rides against their will - because elephants in the wild don’t walk up to humans and say to them “want a ride?”

Worse, a video depicts a member of staff allegedly beating an elephant repeatedly and loudly while the elephant is being bathed.

Is this not enough evidence for Perhilitan? How much more does it want before it takes action to end this terrible treatment and conditions?

The same video mentions the Malacca resort collecting money from the public for conservation. Can the zoo reveal to the Malaysian public to which elephant group or cause the money is going to?

Ignoring the issue won’t make it go away. I hope Friends of the Orangutans will not give up until the zoo is punished according to the Malaysian wildlife law. News is spreading like wildfire on social media of what has been going on at A’Famosa.

Doesn’t this refusal by Perhilitan to act make a farce and a sham of the Malaysian wildlife law? As I understand it, not providing water, chaining elephants and hitting an animal is punishable by law in Malaysia.

In my personal opinion, it is ludicrous and infuriating that Malaysia possesses the laws which could swiftly put an end to these elephants misery yet the department created to help them gives the impression it does not care enough to do so.

If this is how Perhilitan allows animals to be treated, I am not sure tourists from Europe would want to visit the country next year in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2014. Let’s hope Perhilitan wakes up before then.