Malaysia: Perhilitan nabs 11 poachers in four raids throughout May

m. kumar The Star 1 Jun 19;

PETALING JAYA: Eleven poachers were nabbed last month in an effort by the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) to combat poaching.

Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar said the arrests were made during four separate raids in Terengganu, Pahang and Kelantan, throughout May this year.

"Two locals were arrested on May 13 in Rompin, Pahang; six Myanmar nationals were nabbed in two raids on May 23 and May 27 at Gua Musang, Kelantan, and Sungai Yu, Pahang; and finally three Cambodians were detained on May 29 at a Terengganu national park," he said in a statement on his Instagram account on Saturday.

He said that the raids, codenamed Ops Belang, were conducted with the help of police and the General Operations Force (PGA).

Dr Xavier said that five rifles seized in one of the raids were handed over to police for further action.

"The ministry is serious about ensuring all wildlife, especially the Malayan tigers, are protected and do not face extinction.

"That is why we have launched the 'Save the Malayan tiger' campaign starting this year, which includes Ops Belang," he said.

Dr Xavier said that the ops will concentrate round-the-clock patrols and operations at the tigers' natural habitat and hotspots in Kelantan, Pahang, Johor, Perak and Kedah.