Nik Nazmi denies involvement in elephants' transfer, welcomes probe

Former minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has denied any involvement in alleged corruption linked to the transfer of three elephants from Perak’s Taiping Zoo to Japan’s Tennoji Zoo.

This followed claims by an animal rights activist of irregularities in the transfer of the elephants - Dara, Amoi, and Kelat.

Describing the allegations against him and his former office as baseless, Nik Nazmi said he welcomed investigations by the MACC.

“As far as I am concerned, I can completely deny that my office or I myself were involved in any corrupt practices regarding this matter.

“If they want to lodge a complaint, that’s fine. MACC or anyone else should be given the space to investigate it,” New Straits Times reported the former natural resources and environmental sustainability minister saying yesterday.

Earlier, lawyer Sachpreetraj Singh of Hak Asasi Hidupan Liar Malaysia (Hidup) urged the MACC to investigate Nik Nazmi and the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) over the transfer.

It was alleged that RM53 million in payments related to the transfer did not enter government coffers but instead ended up in the hands of certain individuals.

Sachpreetraj also claimed the group had intended to lodge a report with the MACC but was denied entry to the commission's headquarters.

Malaysiakini understands the MACC had raised safety concerns over the size of the group and instead offered entry to one complainant and a lawyer.

However, it is learnt that the group rejected the offer and did not proceed with lodging a report.

Nik Nazmi acknowledged that discussions on the transfer began during his tenure but stressed that final approval was granted after he left office.

He served as minister from December 2023 to July 2025.

Following his resignation, Umno’s Johari Abdul Ghani served as acting minister before Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah’s (PBRS) Arthur Joseph Kurup took over in December 2025.

Not a commercial transaction

Nik Nazmi stressed that the arrangement was not a commercial sale of wildlife but a cross-border transfer.

“It wasn’t a sale. Ownership and so on are still related to Taiping Zoo. There is some misinformation out there.

“When wildlife is transferred out of Malaysia, the government must agree,” said the former PKR MP, adding that the arrangement was between the two zoos rather than a direct government-to-government deal.

“However, because the transaction required moving wildlife out of the country, the final approval had to come from Perhilitan and the ministry.”

Asked who approved the transfer, Nik Nazmi said the final decision required ministerial sign-off but reiterated that it did not occur during his tenure.

“I believe the final approval had to be made by the minister. I don’t remember the exact details, but it was definitely after my time,” he said.

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