02/10/2024

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Malaysian Paper

/thesundaily /

Weak enforcement hindering effectiveness of wildlife laws

Orang Asli in Kuala Betis plead for ATM to be installed GUA MUSANG: The Orang Asli community here has made an earnest plea for the installation of automatic teller machines (ATM) and cash deposit machines (CDM) at the Kuala Betis Settlement to meet their banking needs. Siti Nornadia Kamarzaman, 37, explained that the availability of such facilities would be highly beneficial for the community, helping them save on fuel costs due to the long distance they must travel to the city. “We are requesting ATM and CDM here because Kuala Betis serves as the entry and exit point for the Orang Asli population in the rural settlements within the Galas and Nenggiri state constituency areas. This would also shorten our journey, as residents from Pos Hau, Pos Belatim, Pos Balar, Pos Bihai, Pos Simpor and Pos Gob currently have to ride motorbikes for over 70km to reach Gua Musang town,” she told Bernama yesterday. Similarly, Norasyikin Uda, 46, added that not all villagers own vehicles and many are forced to rent cars at a cost of about RM50 to travel in and out of the city. “Most residents in this area have no other option and must pay travel costs, which could otherwise be used to meet basic family needs,” she said. A recent survey revealed that residents still have to travel to the nearest bank in Gua Musang, which is a 40-minute journey, to make cash withdrawals and deposits. – Bernama Centre pledges RM75,000 for heart campaign KUALA LUMPUR: Sunway Medical Centre (SMC) has pledged incentives worth RM75,000 through its partnership with the Rotary Club Shah Alam (RCSA) for the Save the Heart campaign. SMC announced that 25 underserved individuals will be offered complimentary heart screening packages, while up to 100 selected recipients will receive subsidised heart screening packages in celebration of the centre’s 25th anniversary. “The initiative was marked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding with RCSA to support the club’s efforts to improve community health. With heart-related ailments remaining the leading cause of death among Malaysians, SMC feels compelled to participate in the campaign, emphasising the importance of accessibility to early screenings,” SMC said in a statement. The three-month campaign, which began on Aug 1, will conclude on Oct 31. – Bernama

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

o Authorities need to accord more attention to ports and airports, while logistics firms should assist to report shipping of animal parts: NGO

exotic and wildlife species in the global market. “Pet ownership has increased in recent years, and the trend of owning exotic and wild animals is also rising. “The advances in animal husbandry and propagation technologies have enabled wealthy individuals to exploit illegal markets, allowing them to easily move, breed, access and trade in wildlife online.” Tengku Rinalfi said human psychology plays a significant role, as many people seek the personal satisfaction of owning and displaying unique animals. He said as it becomes more normal, there will be an increased risk of spreading zoonotic diseases, propagating invasive species and physically harming humans and animals. “Public awareness on the importance of wildlife protection laws remains very low as many people are either unaware of the existence of laws or do not fully understand their significance. “Effective awareness campaigns are crucial to educate the public on the consequences of wildlife crime for biodiversity and human health, and to encourage responsible behaviour that supports conservation efforts.”

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia continues to suffer from deplorable enforcement despite more than 1,000 wildlife parts, including 397 bear paws from several endangered species, being seized at a house near the Taman Negara in Pahang last November. Elizabeth John, the communications manager for Traffic, an NGO whose mission is to ensure that the trade in wild species is legal and sustainable for the sake of the planet and people, is outraged. She said while a stronger Wildlife Conservation Act was approved in 2022, with higher penalties of up to RM1 million and a maximum jail term of 15 years for offences involving trafficking, the challenge lies in enforcing it. “Although a series of revisions to strengthen the Act was approved, including offences such as keeping, hunting and smuggling wildlife, not all the revisions are currently in effect.” Elizabeth said the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry reported that a total of 490 offenders were arrested by wildlife authorities in ramped-up Road Transport Dept upgrades MyJPJ app KAJANG: The Road Transport Department (RTD) is upgrading the MyJPJ app following implementation of the special Malaysian driving licence transition programme, which allows transitions from Class B2/B1 to Class B (high-powered motorcycles) and has seen high demand for online eligibility checks. RTD director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said the upgrade is being carried out to ensure maximum accessibility for Malaysians eligible to apply at selected driving institutes nationwide starting yesterday. He added that holders of Class B2/B1 licences can also check their eligibility through the public mySIKAP portal at public.jpj.gov.my or at RTD counters. – Bernama

ports, airports and the logistics industry, which should take a more proactive role in combating wildlife crime through their facilities and services. There were 654 cases involving the illegal online sale of exotic wildlife between 2020 and 2023 through various social media platforms, as reported by the Wildlife and National Parks Department. She said courier companies should adopt policies and improve their processes to enhance the detection of wildlife trafficking in packages. “More innovative efforts by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission in collaboration with consumer groups should be considered to combat illegal online trade and address the use of packages for wildlife trafficking.” Universiti Putra Malaysia Wildlife Management senior lecturer Dr Tengku Rinalfi Putra Tengku Azizan said there is always demand for

enforcement operations from 2019 to April this year. However, based on Traffic’s data, there have been at least 28 known seizure incidents involving wild animals within a 30km radius of Taman Negara in the past five years. This resulted in the confiscation of 499 animal parts, with pangolins, leopards and bears being the top three most seized species. Elizabeth said Malaysia is one of the most mega-diverse countries in the world, with more than 15,000 species of vascular plants and 152,000 species of animal life. However, the rich biodiversity has turned the nation into a hotbed for poaching, wildlife trafficking and a hub for international trade. “Everything from pangolins and bears to our tigers, sambar deers and birds are being hunted, and Malaysia is a popular supply market.” She said the specific areas needing more attention and resources include

MOBILE EFFICIENCY ... National Registration Department staff providing services directly to the public via its counters on-wheels contained in a specially refurbished van at Universiti Malaya Medical Center. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

IRB committed to maintaining fair taxation system KUALA LUMPUR: The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) is committed to ensuring that taxpayer rights are defended and protected throughout all dealings, aiming to maintain an effective, fair and equitable taxation system in the country. IRB Klang Valley legal branch public relations officer Nur Syazwani Hamzah said taxpayers’ right to access taxation information is frequently communicated through various “Additionally, IRB sends letters or notices to the taxpayer’s latest address regarding their taxation status. This is why it is essential for taxpayers to keep their contact information up-to-date with the IRB, either online through the e-Update function on the MyTax Portal or in writing,” she said. action by IRB. She said this year, IRB will focus on categorising and understanding taxpayer behaviour as part of its effort to reshape public perception of taxation and the IRB itself. She emphasised that alongside enforcing existing tax laws, IRB also plays a key role in educating the public about their responsibilities as voluntary taxpayers.

foster a culture of compliance. “The categories of taxpayers include those with excellent records in tax reporting and payment, those at risk of tax evasion and individuals generating income online,” she said during an appearance on the Klinik Cukai programme produced by Bernama Radio. “There are also cases involving taxpayers or companies operating in the shadow economy, as well as those with cross-border transactions.” – Bernama

Nur Syazwani added that the public can also check their current tax status and any travel restrictions through the MyTax Portal before traveling abroad to ensure their tax affairs are in order. This helps taxpayers avoid potential legal

However, she noted that some among the public still perceive IRB as a feared entity, which can hinder efforts to

platforms, including announcements and updates on the IRB official website, www.hasil.gov.my.