Last October, a man was arrested in Tumpat, Kelantan, for having possession of a dead tiger. The tiger, which had been chopped into four pieces, was found in 22-year-old Ang Chun Tan's freezer.

Charged under the Protection of Wildlife Act 1972, he risked a fine of RM15,000 or a five-year imprisonment. Ang, however, was fined a mere RM7,000 for his heinous crime.

After much uproar by the local and international conservation community, as well as members of the public, the Kelantan state prosecutor's appealed the case, demanding that Ang be jailed.

The notice of appeal was filed on Oct 26 last year. Almost half a year has passed, and there has been no progress yet.

As a Malaysian who is deeply concerned for all wildlife species, I would like to request that the judiciary look into this case with utmost urgency, for if we aren't prudent about conserving tigers in Malaysia we may very well lose them to the people who make medicines, trophies, amulets and pets out of them.

Please see that Ang receives the punishment he deserves both as a deterrent to others and as a just penalty for his crime. And to ensure that his poaching days are over.