DENGKIL: The amendment to the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 will increase the minimum penalty for poachers to a RM1mil fine and five years in jail, says Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar. Jayakumar said it was worrying that there were only 200 tigers left in Malaysia, adding that if drastic action was not taken immediately, Malaysia might lose the iconic animal forever. Under Ops Belang, 200 Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) officers will patrol the forest around the clock. Jayakumar said a shoot-on-sight policy should be implemented in Malaysia, adding that it would be also for self-defence for those conducting the patrols. Poachers, many of whom are from Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia entering Malaysia on a visitor visa, are known to be armed with guns and machetes.

Source: The Star April 30, 2019 05:55 UTC