TAWAU: There is a need to ensure the enforcement of legal provisions to truly protect wildlife, said Tawau Member of Parliament Datuk Christina Liew.
The former state Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment stressed that without strict enforcement of the country's wildlife laws, they will merely remain on paper.
"Fair play without selective prosecution should be the order of the day in Malaysian jurisprudence.
"The principle of equality before the law should be applicable to all citizens whereby they are subject to due processes of the law.
"Implementation of the law must take its course without interference from any quarters.
"It is important to uphold the rule of law so that those who commit transgressions are brought to justice under our legal system," Liew said in a statement.
She was commenting on Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah's recent announcement that wildlife traffickers in the country will face fines of up to RM1 million once amendments to existing laws are passed and implemented by the Government.
He was quoted as saying that the Government was in the final stages of amending the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716).
The amendment would be tabled in Cabinet and subsequently in Parliament to curb wildlife trafficking in the country.
At present, any offender, including poachers, can be fined a maximum of RM500,000 or jailed not exceeding five years, or both.
"We have been hearing about this amendment exercise since 2019, and hope it will be realised soon.
"It should be made applicable to all states, including Sabah, to act as a deterrent against poaching and other wildlife-related crimes," said Liew, who is also Api Api assemblyman.