Wildlife trafficking needs a joint approach: Anifah
Published on: Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Tuaran: Regional collaboration among Asean members and its external partners is imperative to tackle wildlife trafficking as it is a serious crime not only at the regional level but also a global problem.Making the call, Foreign Minister Dato' Seri Anifah Aman said countries need to work together to combat this illegal activity due to its huge implications to development, peace and security."Although Asean countries have different laws, penalties, and priorities, I strongly believe that regional cooperation among the member states and dialogue partners is achievable to fight wildlife trafficking.
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"We can work together on economic issues and also in combating terrorism and extremism, hence I don't think there would be any problem to do the same in addressing this wildlife trafficking issues."Also, I think everyone realises the danger (of wildlife trafficking) if we do not take necessary and remedial steps to prevent it," he said.Anifah said this in a press conference after officiating at the three-day Asean Regional Forum (ARF) on combating wildlife trafficking at Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort here on Monday.The first-time workshop was co-chaired by Malaysia and the United States of America.
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Also present were State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun, US Ambassador to Malaysia, Joseph Y. Yun, and Malaysia's International Ambassador for Orang Utan Conservation Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh.On a call by Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum for heavier penalties for wildlife offences last week, Anifah said Malaysia is all for heavier penalties for anyone found guilty of wildlife trafficking activities.
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"Most probably, a call for heavier penalties might be discussed in the forum. Although I am not exactly involved, I will be surprised if it is not (looked into for discussion)."When listening to all the grievances and also the amount involved in such illegal activity … it is staggering. I did not realise such huge amounts of money are involved from this menace as well as about the extinction of wildlife and the endangered species. "How many rhinos in Sabah are left or even in the world (due to the active wildlife trafficking)? Here you can see the urgency to take steps in correcting this," he said.According to Anifah, having regional collaboration among Asean members in addressing wildlife trafficking offences is more needed than increasing the budget to deploy all assets to combat the international problem."I think increasing the assets will not necessarily solve the problem. Like what we said just now, there is a need to collaborate with other countries and we need to work closely together because it is not a problem of one country but a regional problem. Even the monetary figure mentioned in the forum derived from the illegal activity runs to few billion Ringgit."Now can you imagine what sort of resources a country needs to put in order to combat wildlife trafficking? I think if the countries have the assets and money but do not have the network, it will not be possible."Hence, we are going to put all efforts together the best we can so that the main issues surrounding the illegal activity, and the wildlife declaration are all in place, and what needs to be done now is to work with us and be frank about what needs to be done collectively to prevent a recurrence of wildlife offences," he said.Anifah said Malaysia and US through Ambassador Yun agreed to organise the workshop which is the first forum in the ARF."We are blessed that this (forum) started in Sabah and also another importance is that Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh is not only representing the Orang Utan now … but also the rhinos and marine turtles that are also the main prey of these wildlife traffickers and smugglers."We should be happy … that such a famous personality is doing a good cause to do conservation efforts and representing our endangered wildlife species in her works," he said.At this juncture, Yun interjected that a two-pronged approach is needed from Asean and United States to come together to raise the profile of wildlife trafficking to be enlisted as serious illegal trade and one of the international crimes.He added the participants of the workshop would also look into enforcement aspects and enhancing public awareness on the main issues of wildlife trafficking offences.Meanwhile Masidi said educating every strata of society is more important rather than looking into raising money to solve the problem."I think it is all about educating … and not the amount of money to solve the problem. Just look at drug trafficking, the penalty is death by hanging and yet it is still a menace today."The indication here is the educational effort which must be enhanced. We should go beyond the death penalty like going proactive by educating the people."On the proposed death penalty for wildlife traffickers, Anifah said personally he does not subscribe to such penalty because it is proven that it does not work like in drug trafficking.He agreed with Masidi that there is a need for education and awareness among all strata of society on the dangers of wildlife trafficking and the importance of ensuring wildlife animals are protected.In a different development, Anifah reiterated that Malaysia never recognised the Philippine claim over Sabah. He was responding to a Philippine media reported Monday that its Foreign Affairs Department has handed a note to Wisma Putra stating that the Philippine government is willing to drop its claim on Sabah in return for Malaysia's support for the Philippines in its case against China in the United Nations."What claim? Is there a claim? We never recognise any claim. As for the note, it is irrelevant," he said.Meanwhile, Wildlife trafficking is "on the verge of running out of control", warned US Ambassador to Malaysia , Joseph Yun."You have heard the figures – billions of dollars in trade," he told delegates from China, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, Cambodia, Malaysia , USA, etc."I would say you can compare it to other illicit trades such as drugs, arms and trafficking in persons , which has become not only a serious national threat but also beyond – a regional and global threat," noted Yun who said he had just returned two days ago from a global chiefs of missions conference in Washington where Secretary of State John Kerry stressed it was the duty of diplomats to combat this kind of illicit trade through international agreements and co-operation in gatherings."I was happy to tell them that I 'd be immediately going to Sabah to join Anifah (Foreign Ministewr to come together in an Asean Forum like this to forward some of our goals in countering wildlife traffics," Yun remarked. "We believe in three elements that had to be in this strategy," he said."First, what are we going to do about enforcement of existing laws? Are the existing laws strong enough, are the penalties strong enough, are there enough officials and personnel to enforce the existing laws? So the first challenge really is about enforcement," Yun said."The second challenge is, what are we doing about awareness, about education, making sure for instance that the community and where the demand comes from that having rhino horns makes no difference to your health," Yun added. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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