KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Christina Liew announced several short and long term measures to address the elephant situation and deaths in the state.
During the first meeting with the Ministry’s Head of Departments and permanent secretary today, the newly minted minister said the short term measure was increasing manpower from two to at least 10 rangers manning a plantation area, particularly at the east coast.
The meeting also decided on engaging consultant to study how best to handle the human-elephant conflict.
“We no longer can rely on holding meetings with oil palm plantation owners.
“Elephants are protected but it is also a burden to smallholders when their crops are destroyed, so the best way is to find a two-pronged approach, hopefully through this long term measure.
“At the same time the Ministry will also reactivate the reward system, where we award witnesses of elephant killings who step forward,” she told reporters after the meeting.
Liew was responding to recent reports of elephant deaths the cause of which was still being investigated as there were no gunshot wounds.
Liew added they had to engage a consultant for the study.
Meanwhile, commenting on her ministerial appointment, Liew expressed excitement over the portfolio which she said was very challenging.
“I like this job because it challenges me and I am determined to move Sabah’s tourism industry forward,” she said, adding that Chinese tourists will still be the main target market.
Liew who is Tawau Member of Parliament, also wanted to see the tourism industry boosted in other main cities like Sandakan and Tawau besides the state capital of Kota Kinabalu.
On another note, she announced that she had informed the Sabah Law Association of quitting as a practicing lawyer, a career she held for over 20 years.
The Api-Api assemblyman also said she would have to practice time management well as she had to go back and forth Kota Kinabalu and Tawau.