Group says elephants sent to Japan suffering; online sellers being monitored

 

Claims of elephants suffering

The Malaysian Nature Conservation Organisation (Perkam) claimed that three elephants - Dara, Amoi, and Kelat - sent to Japan are suffering, disputing government agencies’ claims that the animals are doing well.

“I say that they are actually suffering, but information from various government bodies says that they are doing well, are fat and healthy.

"Actually, they are not, and I also have evidence,” Perkam president S Santharasekaran claimed at a peaceful assembly and press conference calling for the elephants' return to Malaysia.

Malaysia Gazette reported him saying that efforts to bring home the three elephants, dubbed DAK, had been ongoing for six months, including through memorandums and letters submitted to various parties, including the MACC.

He said Perkam and environmental activists are now urging the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) to bring the elephants home by the end of this year.

E-commerce sellers being monitored

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the government was monitoring e-commerce platforms over sellers’ use of coded terms and fake accounts to market prohibited substances.

He said some sellers avoided using the actual or scientific names of substances such as fentanyl, instead using alternative terms that buyers could recognise but platforms might not flag as referring to prohibited items.

Bernama reported him saying that an e-commerce platform linked to the issue had been summoned on Monday, although the minister was still awaiting a full briefing on the outcome.

Fahmi also urged platform operators to proactively act against fake accounts used to sell prohibited substances, rather than merely removing content after illegal activities were detected or went viral.

He said such accounts were also being used for other illegal activities, including online gambling. - Mkini