The Sarawak government is set to enhance wildlife protection by amending the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998 to elevate four species from Protected Animal to Fully Protected Animal status. The amendment, now in its final review stage, will cover pangolins, sun bears, colugos and wild cats, according to Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development Datuk Len Talif Salleh.
He said enforcement efforts will be intensified using advanced technology, with cross-border collaboration involving Indonesia and Brunei. Delivering his winding-up speech during the State Legislative Assembly sitting, Len Talif stressed that the state remains committed to tackling wildlife crimes.
Between April and November, the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) opened 59 investigation papers relating to Fully Protected Areas and wildlife offences. Of these cases, nine have been brought to court, 15 resulted in compounds, two were referred to the State Attorney General’s Chambers and 33 are still under investigation.
Additionally, eight cases initiated last year were prosecuted during the same period, bringing the total number of court cases to 17. A total of 21 defendants pleaded guilty and were fined, while 13 received custodial sentences. The state collected RM39,000 in compounds and RM216,700 in court fines.
From November 4 to 8, SFC and the Royal Malaysia Police joined forces with enforcement agencies in Indonesia to combat wildlife smuggling along the Malaysia-Indonesia border. During the operation, authorities seized 313 wildlife-related items, including ironwood, Casuarina equisetifolia and deer antler ferns.
