Malaysia: Close watch on poaching at Belum park

Audrey Dermawan and Slyvia Looi New Straits Times 29 Aug 13;

ONGOING CRACKDOWN: Multi-agency enforcement carried out on regular basis

CHECKS on poaching at the Royal Belum State Park is being undertaken through a multi-agency enforcement approach.

State Health, Tourism and Culture Committee chairman Nolee Ashilin Mohamed Radzi (BN-Tualang Sekah) said among the authorities involved are the Perak State Park Corporation (PTNP), Wildlife and National Parks Department, Forestry Department, Anti-Smuggling Unit and police with the support of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

"Enforcement is being carried out, especially during weekends and public holidays, along the East-West Highway based on tip-offs from NGOs.

"Since October 2011, PTNP had created check points at the entrance to the Royal Belum State Park to check and monitor boats that enter the park," she said, adding that the check points are operational 24 hours.

She was replying to Salbiah Mohamed (BN-Temengor), who asked on the steps taken to curb poaching in the park.

Nolee also said that the Wildlife and National Parks Department had patrolled the area 135 times between last year and July of this year.

"During the patrols, the department had successfully destroyed 38 traps and demolished two camps used by poachers in Belum forest," she said, adding that 65 closed-circuit televisions had been installed along the East-West Highway to track poaching activities.

She said that the state government had allocated RM300,000 the Forestry Department to reduce encroachment into the park.

"From September last year, the Hulu Perak district forestry office had taken the initiative to set up a special action unit to have joint operations with other enforcement agencies at the corridor of the Grik - Jeli Highway," she said.

Police had also arrested 34 foreigners and nine locals for encroaching, she added.

"Marine police also check on boats and vehicles that stop at the Pulau Banding public jetty," she said, adding that a total of 1,730 checks had been conducted from last year until July this year.

Earlier, state Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Saarani Mohamad told Datuk Abdul Manaf Hashim (BN-Pengkalan Baru) told the state assembly that the Kampar District Council had implemented recycling of disposed food to be turned into compost.

"Until the end of last year, 260 homes from four villages in Kampar had participated in the programme."

On another matter, the state recorded a 0.12 per cent or 283 pupils dropping out of primary school as of June 30 this year, while another 233,970 were in attendance.

State Education Committee chairman Dr Muhammad Amin Zakaria (BN-Batu Kurau) said several measures been taken to encourage these dropouts to "return" to school.

"Among them is the Jom Ke Sekolah programme. Besides that, there will also be house-to-house visits by teachers to the affected students to find out the reasons for dropping out," he said when replying to a question by Mohd Zawawi Abu Hassan (Pas-Gunung Semanggol).

Amin said another reason for them dropping out could be due to poverty.

Meanwhile, an opposition assemblyman urged the state government to look into the root cause as to why Indians formed the bulk of those involved in criminal activities.

Nga Kor Ming (DAP-Kepayang) said according to statistics from Bukit Aman, 71 per cent of arrested gangsters were Indians. He also expressed his worry over the recent spate of crimes in the country.

Nga, who is also Taiping MP, claimed that the repeal of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and Emergency Ordinance (EO) had nothing to do with the increase in crime cases.

"There is no proof to substantiate that. That excuse is being given to justify a new law to withhold suspects without trial."