Sabah Ministry Working Closely With ESSCom To Protect Wildlife

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 12 (Bernama) — Sabah’s Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry through the Wildlife Department is working closely with the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) as well as other security agencies to protect wildlife in the state especially in preventing smuggling of wildlife, the Sabah State Assembly was told, Wednesday.

Its minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said as a result of the cooperation including with the Marine Operations Force (MOF) and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) since ESSCom was formed in April last year, five arrests were made by the MOF involving an attempt to smuggle out 23,000 turtle eggs.

“In the latest incident in the waters off Pulai Si Amil, Semporna last August, a foreigner was caught by MMEA for being in possession of 72.4kg of turtle meat and turtle shells, he said when replying to a question from Edwin Bosi (PKR-Kapayan) during debate and the state’s 2015 Budget.

Masidi said that investigations into the latest case had been completed and that the suspect was expected to be charged soon.

He told the state assembly that his ministry through the Wildlife Department had not discontinued investigations into the death of 14 elephants in the Gunung Rara Forest Reserve in January last year and that the reward of RM120,000 to bring the culprits to book still stood.

On another matter, Masidi said the authorities viewed sternly foreigners operating as tour guides in the state and that a one such case involving a South Korean national had been referred to the Immigration Department for further action.

Source: BERNAMA