KUALA LUMPUR: THE proposed amendments to the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716), if passed in Parliament, will act as a deterrent to poachers and others who engage in wildlife criminal activities, conservationists say.
They, however, reiterated their call for stiffer punishment and the heaviest penalties to eliminate the illegal hunting of wildlife.
This is because poachers were part of criminal syndicates that were willing to take risks in return for huge profits from the sale of rare and endangered species in the black market.
They said that syndicates, with their ill-gotten gains from various illicit activities, have scant regard for high fines.
Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre chief executive officer and founder Dr Wong Siew Te said the proposed amendments to the law would be a big step forward in protecting Malaysia's highly endangered species like the Malayan tiger, whose population is fewer than 200, and the sun bear, which numbers between 300 and 500 in the peninsula.
"The rarer species fetch higher prices in the black market. Poachers will always take the risk to hunt for the last of an endangered species, like the Malayan tiger, when such species become so valuable in the black market."
In 2016, illegal wildlife trafficking was said to be worth US$23 billion a year and is the fourth most lucrative global crime after drugs, humans trafficking and arms.
On Wednesday, Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the department was seeking a maximum fine of RM1 million and imprisonment of up to 15 years for poaching, up from the current RM500,000 and five years' jail.
The increase in fines and jail term involved amendments to the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716), which are expected to be brought to Parliament by the end of the year.
When echoing a proposal from Zoo Negara last year, Wong said punishment of tiger poachers should include life imprisonment or the death penalty for tiger poachers.
He also agreed with a suggestion from the previous federal government to consider a shoot-on-sight policy against wildlife poachers in a move to protect Malayan tigers.
"I agree with them. Deforestation and habitat loss for wildlife have caused significant population reduction of our precious wildlife species.
"We have to take the heaviest and the last measure to save the remaining Malayan tigers and other wildlife or risk losing Malaysia's national treasures, icons and symbols."
Wong said when those convicted could pay high fines or bail, it should trigger further investigation, such as under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFA).
"Many of these poachers originate from syndicates that are also involved in other criminal activities. Further investigation of the background, networks, and other illegal activities are needed."
AMLATFA considers 23 sections of the Wildlife Conservation Act and five sections under the International Trade in Endangered Species Act as serious offences, including for illegal hunting, possession, import and export of wildlife.
He said strong political will was crucial too as effective prosecution procedures to build stronger cases were needed. He said consensus from judges to mete out maximum penalties in court once those convicted are found guilty was also crucial.
Wong said most wildlife poaching or illegal wildlife crime was associated with poverty within local communities, and so helping the livelihood of these communities was key to solving wildlife poaching issues.
Malaysian Nature Society president Professor Dr Ahmad Ismail said poaching should be stopped at the site.
This, he said, required effective patrolling by dedicated law enforcement personnel, including the armed forces, police and forest rangers with resources and equipment to face well-armed poachers.
"Along the entire supply chain, awareness needs to be raised and measures must be increased.
"We need to identify the root of the problem. Why is poaching still happening? Where is the demand, be it locally and abroad? We need to identify and stop demand. How do poachers know where the animals are and how are they smuggled out?"
Ahmad said enforcement officers needed to know the whereabouts of animals in the forests and ensure all protected forests were out of bounds so nobody could enter without a permit.
"Even when they have a permit, they need to be accompanied by authorities," he added.