EMBUN MAJID New Straits Times 14 Jun 16;
ALOR STAR: Protected birds worth RM30,000 which went on sale on social media were seized from a house in Kampung Sawa Kecil, Pendang on Monday.
The Kedah Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) carried out the raid following investigations into a Facebook page 'Geng Jual Beli Burung Penduduk Kedah' recently.
Its director Mohamad Hafid Rohani said, during the 3pm seizure, the department also arrested a 32-year-old man believed to be the seller. The seized birds are 12 Burung Mata Putih (Oriental White-eye), one Burung Serindit (Blue-crowned hanging parrot) and one Burung Merbah Luris Leher (Striped-throated bulbul).
"The Oriental white-eye and Blue-crowned hanging parrot are protected birds while the Striped-throated bulbul is a fully protected bird," he said in a statement today.
This was the second seizure of protected birds this month with the first made on June 1 in Jitra, he added.
He said the man was believed to be the owner of the Facebook page and had been actively promoting his activities on the page.
Hafid said for the offence of possessing protected bird, the man could face a maximum RM50,000 fine for each bird, a maximum two years' jail or both under Section 60 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716).
For possessing a fully protected bird, the man could face a maximum RM100,000 fine, a maximum three years' jail or both under Section 68 of the same Act.
Hafid added the man has been remanded for four days to facilitate investigations.
