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Police involvement in protecting wildlife is much needed

  • Publication Date | September 18, 2019
  • Document Type | Letter to the Editor
  • Programmes | Forests & Biodiversity
  • Issues | Wildlife
  • Tags | Corruption, Endangered Species, MACC, Pygmy Elephants, wildlife crime, Wildlife Trade
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Pygmy elephants | Credit: Clean Malaysia

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) commends the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador for his duty of care and national responsibility towards the protection of our nation’s wildlife.  He has made positive statements to combat the smuggling and trafficking scourge with the mobilisation of air, marine and land units to assist the Wildlife Department in thwarting wildlife crime on land, air and sea.   

The assurance from the IGP of tougher laws and more drastic measures and actions to ensure more poachers are brought to justice under Malaysian law is most welcome.  The international illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products has reached crisis proportions.  It is a threat to the existence of iconic species and is a significant cause of the depletion of wildlife.

The growing menace of wildlife trafficking necessitates a call to action which is increasingly recognised by governments, conservation organisations and law enforcement agencies.  There is an urgent need therefore to capitalise on this consensus and move forward from just recognising the problem to identifying the strategies and approaches that can successfully prevent this trade.

Without serious action the already critically small population of Bornean Pygmy Elephant will suffer the same fate as the Sumatran Rhino. The Banteng is also in grave danger, numbering less than 500. And before long Sun Bears, Pangolins and Clouded Leopards will fade into oblivion.  Currently poachers are targeting the critically endangered Helmeted Hornbill for its famed red crown, prized by collectors.  

Regardless of the increased focus on combating wildlife crime – harsher punishments and improved wildlife enforcement capabilities – poaching numbers continue to increase.  Why is this so? 

This is because of an absence of arrests of high-level individuals in connection with these seizures. Arrests that have been made seem to focus on low-level couriers and runners – this does little to dissuade the trade. Though some offenders – usually couriers – have been arrested and convicted, they only played minor roles in the echelons of the criminal networks.  Seizures in the absence of arrests do little to address transnational wildlife crime or stop the killing of the world’s endangered species. 

Little is being done to investigate money laundering related to these crimes.  It is very important that the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to address the transnational organised crime aspect of money laundering.

Corruption is a major facilitator of all types of transnational organised crime. The very high profits as well as the low risk and high reward opportunities for traffickers enable them to bribe low paid public officials.

Criminal actors from other criminal sectors are attracted to environmental crime because of a combination of high profits and low probability of getting caught and convicted.  This applies especially with respect to transnational activities, where enforcement has been virtually non-existent in the past.  

It is a race against time and the government has to take the lead in bringing poaching under control.  It may be too late for the Sumatran Rhino but decisive action cannot come soon enough for the dwindling population of other endangered species.

Poaching can be prevented if people are willing to take action too.  It is high time for change to address the problem. The increased involvement of the RMP would go a long way to address the issue of poaching and the lack of arrests arising from major seizures made by the Customs.  

Tackling the challenges of wildlife requires different combinations of expertise and collaboration among various enforcement agencies, with varying approaches to protect the natural habitat and wildlife.  To be successful, these will need to be combined with a concerted effort to raise awareness and challenge traditional mindsets. 

Meenakshi Raman

President

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Testimonials

Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah satu badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang telah sekian lama berjuang mempertahan kelestarian alam. Ia juga mendidik masyarakat tentang pentingnya kebersamaan dalam pemikiran dan tindakan agar alam ini dapat kita wariskan kepada generasi hadapan dalam keadaan yang elok dan terpelihara. Dalam pada itu juga SAM giat membantu golongan nelayan pantai dalam memperjuangkan hak-hak mereka sehinggalah tertubuhnya Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING). Nelayan pantai sepenuh masa ini dididik oleh SAM sehingga mereka mampu memainkan peranan sebagai pemimpin nelayan yang meneruskan kesinambungan memperjuangkan hak-hak nelayan pantai lainnya. Sebagai contoh SAM telah berjaya menyedarkan masyarakat nelayan keperluan menjaga hutan paya bakau untuk kebaikan hasil tangkapan nelayan itu sendiri.
Jamaluddin Mohamad Bualik
Jamaluddin Mohamad BualikPersatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Jaringan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING)
During the 1980s, I used to read about the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) in the news. After retirement, some time in 2001, while lazing around, I read news about the construction of a carbon in leach plant using sodium cyanide to extract gold in Bukit Koman. My friends and I visited CAP and we were introduced to SAM and her legal team. We discussed the details of filing a case against the gold mining company and the department of environment with Ms Meenakshi Raman and her legal team. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between lawyers from SAM and many of us from Bukit Koman. We had many ups and downs in our struggle to shut down the gold mine that was causing a nuisance in our village. But, as a community we never gave up because SAM had our backs.
Hue Fui How
Hue Fui HowSecretary, Bukit Koman Ban Cyanide in Goldmining Action Committee (BCAC)
Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah sebuah NGO yang memperjuangkan nasib masyarakat luar bandar khasnya. SAM menerima aduan-aduan masyarakat dan menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi. SAM telah mewujudkan ramai aktivis-aktivis sosial dan alam sekitar. Pada era 1980 dan 90an SAM sangat dihormati oleh masyarakat dan agensi kerajaan. Apabila media sosial menguasai maklumat maka SAM pun terkesan dan masalah masyarakat terus disalurkan dengan pelbagai cara. SAM perlu mewujudkan aktivis-aktivis pelapis yang muda untuk terus membantu masyarakat. SAM juga perlu membuat perubahan supaya banyak turun kelapangan dan jangan mengharapkan laporan media sahaja. Tingkatkan prestasi sebagaimana pada zaman kegemilangan SAM di era 80-90an.
Che Ani Mt Zain
Che Ani Mt Zain
SAM taught me the importance of social activism and the role it plays in upholding the rights of people and the protection of the environment. In my experience, SAM has never hesitated to speak up in defence of people and their environment, and has gone the extra mile to champion their rights, by helping communities take their battles to the higher ups and even to the courts.
Jessica Binwani
Jessica BinwaniPublic/Private Interest Lawyer
Semenjak kami kenal SAM, banyak pengalaman dan pengetahuan yg kami dapat. Kami telah belajar cara membuat baja asli daripada SAM. Semenjak itu, bermulalah minat kami dalam aktiviti pertanian. Dengan memperolehi kemahiran dalam membuat baja asli dan penanaman lestari, kami juga telah dapat menambahkan pendapatan sampingan kami. Ini lebih baik daripada tanah kami terbiar dan tidak diusahakan. Terima kasih SAM kerana sudi memberi bantuan dan tunjuk ajar kepada Persatuan kami.
Chedo Anak Nyuwen
Chedo Anak NyuwenPersatuan Penduduk Sg Buri, Bakong, Marudi
My journey with SAM started when her community organisers took me to the meet the paddy farmers of Kedah, connecting my growing interest in environmental law with our people who struggle to work the land in the face of pollution, replacement of traditional seeds with commercial hybrids and their accompanying chemical package of fertilisers and weedicides. I then had the honour to work with SAM in the struggle for the rights of the native communities of Sarawak, in defence of their forests from massive logging and destructive mega-projects. In every issue that SAM takes up, she combines rigorous research with the realities and voices of the communities to advocate for policies and laws that care for people and nature. From the courts to the elected legislators to policy makers and implementers and to the United Nations, SAM walks side by side with the communities in Malaysia. How can I not be inspired by the vision and passion of the generations of women and men who coalesce to form SAM?
Chee Yoke Ling
Chee Yoke Lingstudent of SAM, Executive Director of Third World Network, SAM’s sister organisation

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Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Headquarters)
No. 1, Jalan Joki, 11400 Penang,
Malaysia
Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Marudi Office)
129A, First Floor,
Jalan Tuanku Taha,
P.O.Box 216,
98058 Marudi, Baram, Sarawak,
Malaysia
Tel & Fax: +6085 758 973

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