KUALA LUMPUR: The Biodiversity Protection and Patrolling Programme (BP3) saw 490 cases related to Malayan tiger recorded from 2019 to April this year.
Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii said the programme saw 490 offenders being apprehended, resulting in seizures valued at over RM258 million.
"The ministry, via the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) has implemented nine strategic actions for the conservation of the Malayan tiger, which was approved by the cabinet on June 16, 2021, for a 10-year period until 2030.
"It is being done through three approaches; strengthening efforts to halt the decline in Malayan tiger populations; enhancing good governance and effectiveness in implementing Malayan tiger conservation and empowering initiatives to ensure the survival of the Malayan tiger," he said in response to Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH-Bukit Bendera).
Syerleena was asking about the effort to increase the population of Malayan tigers and whether the effort has shown results and the latest remaining number of Malayan tigers in the country's forests.
Huang said another preventive measure was in terms of the legislation, through the enforcement of Wildlife Conservation (Amendment) Act 2022, which imposes heftier penalties on wildlife crime and in effect since Feb 1 last year.
Wildlife crime offenders face a higher penalty of up to RM1 million and jail of less than 15 years upon conviction.
The amendment to the act was approved in Parliament in 2021 and gazetted on Feb 10, 2022.
"Efforts for the conservation of the Malayan tiger needs to be continuously strengthened as findings of the First National Tiger Survey (NTS1) conducted from 2016 to 2020 recorded less than 150 Malayan tigers left in the country."