Malaysia: Bird lovers call for review of Wildlife Conservation Act

Jastin Ahmad Tarmizi The Star 14 Apr 11;

BIRD lovers, bird catchers and operators of wildlife shops have voiced their concerns about the new Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 to the Wildlife and National Park department (Perhilitan).

The bird lovers are concerned that the Murai Kampung now requires a licence under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 that took affect last year on Dec 28.

The bird lovers, accompanied by Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai voiced their concerns in a dialogue held with Perhilitan over the new Act at the office in Cheras.

“We want to know why we need a licence as it is not a rare or endangered species. We understand if it is a rare or endangered species but Murai Kampung is not a rare species and they breed three times a year,” said a representative of the bird lovers, So Chong Thye.

“This is a Chinese tradition. It is also a century-old hobby and many retired people enjoy this hobby. We want to know how they evaluate which type of wildlife requires licences.

“We do agree with Perhilitan that some licences are required to help with conservation but all these people are bird lovers not smugglers who exploit wildlife,” he said.

“They also have to understand we bird lovers who keep the Murai Kampung only take the male and we do not take babies and the female. We do not cause any problems to the conservation as we do not harm the babies and the females,” he added.

Perhilitan deputy director general Dr Zaaba Zainal Abidin, who was at the dialogue, said the licence imposed was to help with the conservation of the Murai Kampung species.

“Now there might be lot of supply but we see a rising demand, so we have to step in to control the situation. This was decided after consulting many local and international NGOs and agencies. he said.

“The old Act is more on species management while the new one geared towards preventing animal cruelty. There were many problems of animal cruelty and back then, under the old Act we had no authority to punish them as it was not in the law. The laws were not strict enough to conserve wildlife which is why the new Act is a revised version,” he added.

He said a grace period of six months would be given to all those who had not applied for a licence.

“Those who do not have a licence can start to apply for one now. Since the new Act took effect from Dec 28 last year, the last day of the grace period is on June 26. After that we will take action against those who do not have a licence,” said Zaaba.

“We have taken note of the opinions voiced today and we will look into the matter and bring it up to the ministry so they can look into it,” he added.

Tan said representatives of the bird lovers and wildlife traders would prepare a memorandum to Perhilitan over the issue.

“They have already heard the people and they understand their concerns. The representatives of all these bird lovers will prepare a memorandum to be passed to Perhilitan in three weeks,” he said.