KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat passed the Wildlife Conservation (Amendment) Bill 2021 today that increases fines to RM1 million and jail time to 15 years for illegal wildlife traders.
Energy and natural resources minister Takiyuddin Hassan, who tabled the bill, told the Dewan Rakyat that the increase in fines from the current RM500,000 to RM1 million is to deter illegal traders.
“The courts will still decide as this is the maximum penalty,” he said during his ministry’s winding-up speech.
Earlier, Lim Lip Eng (PH-Kepong) said the increase in fines to RM1 million would increase the probability of corruption in order to escape the penalties.
Takiyuddin added that the amendments were also crucial as it allowed the government to take action against online wildlife trading.
During the debate on the bill, Azman Ismail (PH-Kuala Kedah) said pangolins were treated as non-living things.
“Sometimes 30 pangolins are stuffed into a bag without food or water and sold overseas,” he said.
Wong Hon Wai (PH-Bukit Bendera) said forest clearing to make way for the East Coast Rail Link project was affecting the habitat of tapirs.
He proposed that developers contribute to a fund to help the government relocate affected wildlife.
Salim Sharif (BN-Jempol) asked the government to allow farmers to shoot wild boars to prevent them from destroying their crops.
He also urged the home ministry to allow farmers to apply for firearms licences.
“I have received many complaints about wild boars destroying farmers’ crops,” he said.
Johari Abdul (PH-Sungai Petani) asked the ministry to look for ways to control the population of monkeys, saying their increasing numbers was causing a problem in new housing areas where they roam for food.
He said that in one case, monkeys had entered a home and opened the refrigerator to look for food, adding that parents were also concerned over the safety of their young children. - FMT
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