KUALA LUMPUR: Wildlife crime offenders will now face a higher penalty of up to RM1 million and jail less than 15 years if one is found guilty under Section 71 of the Wildlife Conservation Act (Amended) 2022 (Act A1646).
This comes after the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), under the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry (NRECC), enforced 44 sections of Act A1646 beginning today.
The Section 71 of the Act reads importing, exporting or re-exporting totally protected wildlife without special permit (smuggling).
Perhilitan, in a statement, said the increased penalties were necessary as wildlife crimes were serious and caused priceless national treasures to be under threat due to the illegal activities.
"These crimes are categorised as large scale transnational organised crimes and they need to be stopped in a bid to conserve wildlife for future generations.
"The higher penalties under this amendment, which acts as a deterrent, sends a clear message to smugglers to be aware and stop the illegal activities.
"Perhilitan hopes the Wildlife Crime Bureau set up last year under the police will assist in the enforcement of Act A1646.
"The strengthening of the Wildlife Crime Unit under Perhilitan will help to boost enforcement under this act for wildlife conservation," it said today.
Along with the enforcement of the Act, Perhilitan said it would continue its Biodiversity Protection and Patrolling Programme (BP3) throughout the peninsula with the police, Customs, Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia as well as the Perak and Johor National Park Corporations.
Non-governmental organisations such as the Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tiger (Mycat) made up of Traffic Southeast Asia, Wildlife Conservation Society Malaysia Programme, World Wide Fund for Nature, Malaysia Nature Society, Pelindung and Rimba will be included.
"The BP3 will see the appointment of the Veterans of the Malaysian Armed Forces (VAT), Orang Asli and civilians (orang awam) as wildlife rangers.
"Their roles are to assist in duties of border control operations, patrols and enforcement in protected areas and permanent forests throughout Peninsular Malaysia to curb trespassing and illegal hunting," it said.