Heavier penalties needed to clamp down on wildlife traffickers
A recent court ruling which landed Lizard King aka Anson Wong a 6-month jail term and fines of RM190,000 for smuggling 95 boa constrictor is a mere slapdash decision. The sentence passed serves no purpose in deterring the wrongdoings from recurring. Anson Wong was once jailed before in America for 71 months and fined US$60,000.00 under a similar offense. The tame punishment suggests that our government and judiciary take animal smuggling lightly and must put a full stop to illegal wildlife trading.
Anson Wong was detained at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport whilst trying to smuggle the snakes from Penang to Indonesia. It is " fortunate" that the boas escaped from the luggage and were found by an airport worker. Otherwise, the 95 boas together with the rhinocerous vipers and matamata turtle may end up being served on dining tables or as personal pets of collectors of exotic fauna.
Contrary to the Malaysian scenario where one must be caught in possession of animals (otherwise it is not considered a case), in America, the Lacey Act makes it a federal crime which includes those of a foreign country who violate wildlife laws. A wildlife smuggler does not have to be physically caught in possession of an animal to face prosecution charges.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has categorized endangered species into three groups. Appendix I- animals such as tiger and orangutans are banned for trade as they are close to extinction; Appendix II - less vulnerable creatures which maybe trade under a permit system; and species under Appendix III are protected under national legislation. However, CITES does not provide the same protection for wildlife bred in captivity.
All boa constrictors except one sub-species come under Appendix II. So, only experts like Wong can differentiate whether the smuggled reptiles fall under the sub-species of Appendix II? Moreover, Wong claimed that the animals traded were bred in captivity, and thus did not come under CITES. But where were those creatures bred? Whose responsibility is it to verify? The Judge or Perlihitan?
On the other hand, the Attorney-General’s Chamber has filed an appeal against the Wong’s sentence, calling for a heavier punishment. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has also stepped up efforts to protect endangered animals. Its Minister, Datuk Uggag Embas said the enforcement of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 which will be regulated later in the year, provides more serious penalties and will improve the enforcement of laws and regulations on poaching. This shows that our country takes a serious view against poaching. The question is: why should we wait for another Act when existing laws provide conviction with more serious punishment for an offence? Wong had faced a maximum 7 years imprisonment or RM 100,000 per animal or both under the Endangered Species Act 2008.
It is hoped that the new Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 will protect all species found in our country not counting if they are endangered or not. Malaysia is blessed with nature hardly found elsewhere. The flora and fauna here could even be a future income driver by catering to a niche market of travelers bent on eco-tourism. Hence, the urgency to safeguard our wildlife as we cannot afford to lose them.
(Article published at "the Guardian" September 2010)
帅哥交接仪式，正巧碰上，有幸一睹。不过顾他们的守卫还真严，靠近一点也不行
邮件封发用具，还真费功夫
这组邮票我喜欢 -二十四节气邮票
参观完后才看到的大门，哈哈！
下一站，历史博物馆
诗情画意， 有点墨水
总统府，因是端午假日关系，没开放,不得在视野范围内逗留太久，不然守卫就会走向你，会做什么我不知道！ 但帅哥守卫非常友善，有问必答
水蜜桃园。在去阳明山的路上。 交通是很方便，我们截小黄来的，回程搭巴士。 我的kawan很辛苦一下，我就爽到~~~
不过，她说尽然来了，当然要拍照啦！这么辛苦的代价！
这里的老板娘很好，介绍我们去很多地方。 本想上阳明山，但因时间的关系，她建议我们到淡水，但我们最后还是决定到士林官邸，因为，淡水好戏留明天吧！
在半山总站换巴士下市区
哎呀呀，不好彩。 星期一不开放，我们错过了。 kawan说上回来公干时到过了，因为是官访，所以有特别待遇，不过也因为时间关系，只能走马看花。
看不成，官邸外的花园也不错。 任情拍照！
人比花艳！
到此一游！
攀山越岭，血汗流失，当然要“补一补” 找吃咯！！ 士林夜市！
这个jagung+马铃薯+ cheese 制成的一团，超好吃！
一天下来，脚要吊起来才认识它！
