The Star 10 Nov 13;
KUALA LUMPUR: There needs to be a more coordinated approach towards curbing wildlife crime, including tiger poaching, said Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
He said that it was not enough just to rely on the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) and the Anti-Smuggling Unit, which he said were understaffed, given the number of large areas to cover.
“It needs a coordinated approach from all agencies, including the police, Customs and army. Poachers have an extensive and coordinated network, including those who come from overseas to kill our tigers and trade their parts,” he said at the Maybank Wildlife Tiger Run yesterday.
Khairy also expressed disappointment at the light sentence meted out in February to wildlife trader Mohd Nor Shahrizam Nasir, who was caught with eight tiger skins, 22 whole tiger bones and nine African elephant tusks.
The Alor Setar Sessions Court sentenced him to a total of 60 months jail – 24 months each for possession of tiger skins and bones, and 12 months for the tusks.
However, the sentences will run concurrently, so he will spend only two years in jail.
“This was one of the biggest hauls in this part of the world and that was the only sentence that he got.
“This is something we will be looking at in totality when we approach this issue,” he said, referring to the punitive aspect of wildlife enforcement.
Khairy also noted that the tiger stripes were “very integral” to the Malaysian sporting spirit, adding that he would hate to see Malaysian players just wearing the jersey while the tigers themselves were becoming fast extinct.
“We shouldn’t just be proud of our uniforms and symbols. We need to realise that in real life, the number of tigers are decreasing,” he said.
Khairy said his ministry would continue working together with relevant NGOs as he planned to launch a new tiger-striped national jersey design next year.
“I hope that with the launch of the new jersey, we will be able to involve many youths in the cause.”
