Saving Sumatran Rhinos A Global Issue - Minister

KOTA KINABALU (Sabah), June 9 (Bernama) – Sabah state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun called on the global community to assist in the campaign to save the Sumatran rhinoceros from extinction. Following the death of Puntung, one of three female rhinos in Malaysia due to euthanasia on June 4, he said although the rhino species is found in Malaysia and Indonesia, the fact that it was a rare species required cooperation from the whole world in finding an action plan to ensure the rhinos' survival. "I like to believe that these very rare animals belong to the whole world and I think the whole world need to come up with an action plan. It is not just an issue for Malaysia or even Indonesia. I think it's a global issue simply because there are not many left in the world," he said when met by reporters after a breaking-of-fast event organised by his ministry here Thursday. Masidi said he was also encouraged by the fact that Malaysia and Indonesia were on the same page in the cooperation to save the Sumatran rhino species and hoped that there would be substantive progress in the cooperation. "To me, it doesn't matter whether the rhinos are in Malaysia or Indonesia. The concern is that the rhinos are fast disappearing," he added. Puntung had to be put to sleep due to squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer that led to the swelling on her left cheek, which would be fatal with or without treatment. On another development, Masidi said the state cabinet will study the mechanism of the Tourism Tax passed by Parliament in April and the implications of its implementation on the state tourism industry. Many tourism players have expressed dissatisfaction on the new tax, but the minister preferred to get to know the tax better before passing any judgment. "I like to take things in a positive light and I'm sure there are lots of areas which we can be discussed with the Federal government (regarding the Tourism Tax)," he said. The Tourism Tax bill, aimed at providing the imposition and collection of tourism tax on visitors staying in tourist accommodations, was tabled by Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz and passed in Parliament on April 6. -- BERNAMA