New Straits Times 13 Jul 10;
MEMBERS of parliament expressed concern over the lack of enforcement officers to properly enforce the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 once it is passed by Parliament.
They feel there is no point in having a range of punitive measures and provisions for the protection of flora and fauna if there are insufficient wildlife enforcement officers.
Datuk Ismail Kassim (BN-Arau) ticked off the ministry, telling it to study its staff strength before proposing any new laws that require more manpower.
Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) also lamented that the ministry had failed to study the implications of a shortage of enforcement officers when it came up with this act.
"There is a lack of enforcement officers. Most of the time, the enforcement officer is a clerk, office boy, manager and enforcer all rolled into one," he said while debating the bill.
In agreeing with Bung Mokhtar, Datuk Ismail Abdul Muttalib (BN-Maran) demanded to know the current number of wildlife enforcement officers nationwide.
Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (BN-Lenggong), citing as example his constituency, said the Wildlife Department had an annual budget that allowed it to capture a maximum of only five wild elephants. "They cannot do anything if there are more wild elephants due to the lack of budget."
He suggested that a ruling be made requiring companies that open up forests for logging or plantation activities contribute to a special fund for conservation efforts.
