MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT LAUDED FOR TOUGHER WILDLIFE CONSERVATION LAWS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- The tabling of the Wildlife Conservation
Bill 2010 last week, with tougher penalties, is welcomed by the Malaysian Nature
Society, Traffic Southeast Asia and the Wildlife Conservation Society-Malaysia.

The three non-profit organisations congratulated the government for the
long-awaited bill to strengthen enforcement against illegal hunting and trade.

"We hope this new law will provide better protection for Malaysia's wildlife
and close the gaps that have allowed wildlife criminals to continue operating.

"We are glad to note the Bill's provision for higher penalties and tougher
action. This new Bill features many improvements, and we hope the ministry will
continue to review and update the law, specifically the Schedules for Protected
and Totally Protected Species, as threats and trends dictate," they said in a
joint statement Monday.

They hoped enforcement agencies would make full use of the new legislation
to act against poachers, smugglers and illegal wildlife traders.

-- BERNAMA



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