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Sarawak’s enlightened environs leadership lauded

What a difference one person can make to saving Malaysia’s wildlife and environment.

Just a year ago it was inconceivable Sarawak would now be setting the standard when it comes to conservation in Malaysia.

Credit for this remarkable turnaround must go to one man -hief Minister Adenan Satem. When it comes to environmental matters he has, without doubt, become the most enlightened environmental leader not only in all of Malaysia, probably all of South-East Asia.

The chief minister is walking his talk and enforcing the law. He by and large, has earned the respect and appreciation of conservationists.

Admittedly, we have yet to see any major logging companies prosecuted, but we do know a great many are under investigation.

If only other leaders in Sabah and peninsula Malaysia would take a leaf out of Adenan’s book wildlife in general might be saved from going the same way as the rhino - now extinct in the forests of Sabah.

Can you imagine what it must be like to be personally responsible for the extinction of such an amazing mammal? How would you feel? How do you think the Sabah Wildlife Department feel about this?

One can only wonder how the government’s wildlife authorities in Sabah feel about that man-made environmental disaster. Will the Pygmy elephant go the same way? The odds are it will. Why?

Because we don’t yet see the kind of personal commitment in Sabah that we see next door in Sarawak. If conferences and workshops (talking shops) could save wildlife, by now all wildlife in Sabah would be as safe as politicians’ houses; but Sabah’s wildlife is far from being safe, isn’t it?

Talking about saving wildlife is very different from actually preventing unique species like the rhino from being driven into extinction.

Staring extinction in the face

As you read this the Malaysian tiger is staring in the face, with Perhilitan looking on like bystanders scratching their heads at a major road traffic accident.

Significant differences between the leadership in Sarawak and elsewhere in Malaysia illustrate why Chief Minister Adenan is currently such a success.

First and foremost, he cares about all the environment. He accepts responsibility for what happens in Sarawak. He makes sure the laws are enforced. He does not make excuses. All of which differentiate him from those elsewhere in Malaysia who do not hold with such personal values.

From Sabah, all we ever hear from the minister responsible and his wildlife department are lame excuses. It’s always someone else’s fault but never, ever, is blame attached to the palm oil industry. For years Sabah’s leadership has sucked up to NGOs, told them what they want to hear, and proceeded then to do nothing.

Back in KL there is no credible leadership in Perhilitan and never has been. Ministers are changed with a dizzying frequency and all leave a legacy of neglect.

It now seems likely Sarawak will begin to attract ever more tourists and their money who previously would have gone to Sabah. Good luck to Sarawak and thank you Chief Minister Adenan.


SEAN WHYTE is CEO of Nature Alert.

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