15/07/2025

TUESDAY | JULY 15, 2025

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Dept launches elephant translocation operation

Negligence discovered among officers PUTRAJAYA: The Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) has revealed that there was negligence in the management of follow-up actions involving an individual confirmed positive for drug use by National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) Selangor branch officers. EAIC said the investigation was conducted based on a complaint received under Subsection 27(4) of the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission Act 2009. It said the individual had been confirmed positive for drugs by a pathology lab at a public hospital. “The investigation found that the officers were negligent by failing to ensure the individual signed the Letter of Agreement and Guarantee after being released on court bail. “This hindered follow-up action when the individual did not return to the AADK office as instructed.” It added that the investigation found failures in efforts to locate the individual again as although several operations were reportedly carried out, there was no strong documentation to confirm that the tracking efforts were genuinely focused on the individual. It noted that the failure of AADK’s district-level management to monitor and supervise subordinate officers led to violations of SOPs and standing orders related to bail and case handling, resulting in the case remaining unresolved and open. The probe identified weaknesses in the SOPs related to the lack of clear guidelines for AADK officers to enter premises for the purpose of apprehending suspected individuals. “EAIC has decided to refer the probe findings to AADK’s Disciplinary Authority, with a recommendation for disciplinary action against the officer involved under Regulation 38 of the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993, following negligence in carrying out duties as stipulated under Regulation 4(2)(j) of the same regulations.” – Bernama Body found in ravine classified as murder case IPOH: Police have confirmed that a man who was found dead in a ravine in Kampung Batu 23, Jalan Pahang near Tapah on Sunday died of injuries from being beaten by a blunt object. Tapah district police chief Supt Johari Yahya said this is based on the results of an autopsy at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital forensics unit yesterday, Bernama reported. “There were bruises and abrasions on the head, face, chest, back of the body and hands,“ he said in a statement, adding that fingerprints were taken to identify the deceased. The body was found in a prone position underneath a 15m embankment by the roadside. The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder and efforts to identify a suspect is underway, he added. He urged those with information to come forward to the nearest police station or contact the Tapah district police headquarters at 05-401 1222.

JOHOR BAHRU: Police have crippled two drug trafficking syndicates operating in Johor and Penang, arresting five individuals and seizing various narcotics worth over RM3.6 million. According to a Bernama report, Johor police chief Datuk M. Kumar said three suspects, a local man and two Vietnamese women, aged between 32 and 39, were detained in a series of special operations carried out by the Johor Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department and South Johor Bahru district police on Thursday and Friday. He said the syndicate, believed to be active since April last year, used gated and guarded residences to store and process drugs for distribution to the local market. The investigation began with the arrest of a local man by the roadside, KLUANG: The Wildlife and National Parks Department has launched a large-scale Integrated Elephant Translocation Operation to relocate 25 elephants from conflict zones across Peninsular Malaysia, starting this month through July next year. Its director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the initiative aims to address conflicts between humans and elephants systematically and effectively, with Johor as the first state involved. “The operation targets high-risk areas by identifying and relocating elephant herds that disrupt farms, villages and residential areas.” He was speaking after officiating at the Johor leg of the operation yesterday. The event was also attended by Johor Health and Environment Committee chairman Ling Tiang Soon and Johor department director Aminuddin Jamin. Abdul Kadir added that the effort also supports ecosystem restoration through population control outside natural habitats and would help gather scientific data to strengthen future elephant management policies. He also said many elephants in conflict zones are believed to have strayed from fragmented forest reserves as infrastructure development, plantations and human encroachment have reduced their traditional ranges. Elephants, being highly mobile and intelligent animals, tend to return to previous migratory paths between humans and wildlife systematically, effectively’ o ‘Initiative aims to address conflicts Ű BY T. C. KHOR newsdesk@thesundaily.com

National Policy on Biological Diversity 2022–2030 and the National Forestry Policy. He expressed gratitude to the Johor government for allocating RM600,000 to support the operation, highlighting its commitment to wildlife conservation and conflict mitigation. He urged plantation owners, local communities and district authorities to work closely with the department by reporting elephant sightings promptly and participating in outreach efforts to raise awareness of coexistence practices. He stressed that public cooperation is crucial to the success of the initiative. The department is also planning to further enhance community-based engagement through education campaigns and potential compensation mechanisms for affected farmers as part of a broader effort to foster tolerance and coexistence between people and wildlife.

Among the most frequent cases reported were crop destruction, property damage and in some instances, threats to human life. In one tragic incident in 2022, a 40-year-old man in Grik, Perak was trampled to death by a wild elephant while returning home from work. That same year, villagers in Kampung Chawas, Kuala Krai in Kelantan suffered over RM60,000 in agricultural losses after elephants damaged fruit orchards and food crops. In 2023, a herd of elephants destroyed over 20ha of oil palm plantation in Felda Ulu Tebrau, Johor, prompting urgent calls from settlers for long-term solutions. In Bera, Pahang, elephants were reported to have entered house compounds and caused over RM100,000 in losses to smallholders in 2020. Abdul Kadir said the programme aligns with key national strategies, including the National Elephant Conservation Action Plan, the

even after being translocated. The Johor operation is being carried out in collaboration with the National Elephant Conservation Centre Elephant Transfer Team in Kuala Gandah, Pahang, alongside teams from Perak, Kelantan and Terengganu, with the Johor department as the lead coordinator, Bernama reported. The initiative will utilise drone surveillance, digital movement mapping and early warning systems to minimise risks to local communities. These technologies are aimed at improving tracking accuracy and ensuring the safety of humans and elephants during the relocation process. Currently, about 1,300 wild elephants are estimated to inhabit Peninsular Malaysia. From 2020 to 2024, the department recorded 4,919 human-elephant conflict incidents, resulting in losses estimated at RM39.4 million, mainly in Johor, Kelantan, Perak and Pahang.

The initiative will utilise drone surveillance, digital movement mapping and early warning systems to minimise risks to local communities. – BERNAMAPIC

Drug trafficking syndicates busted in Johor, Penang

targeting the local market,” he said. Preliminary urine tests showed that the male suspect tested positive for benzodiazepines. He also has four criminal records. The female suspect tested negative and has no prior record. Both have been remanded for seven days to assist investigations. The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment, along with no fewer than 12 strokes of the cane, upon conviction. Abdul Rozak said police would continue intensifying operations against drug syndicates. “We plan to strengthen cooperation with other agencies through information sharing and a holistic approach to address drug distribution.” Those with information on drug activities are urged to contact the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department at 012-208 7222.

Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and Section 6(3) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. In Penang, police arrested a 25-year-old local man and a 20-year-old foreign woman during a raid in the Pulau Tikus and Tanjong Tokong areas on Thursday. Northeast district police chief Assistant Commissioner Abdul Rozak Muhammad said the raid, conducted by the district’s Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division at 9.30pm, led to the seizure of 15 compressed packets of dried leaves believed to be ganja . “The drugs are estimated to weigh 8.2kg and are worth RM25,420. They are sufficient for about 16,400 doses,” he said in a statement. He added that the value of the drugs and other confiscated items was estimated at RM46,890.50. “Initial investigations revealed that the syndicate had been active since early this year and was

which led police to a rented room in a shophouse in Johor Bahru. The suspect later led police to three luxury condominium units also rented by him, where more drugs were found and the two foreign women were arrested. “Police seized 20.7kg of powder suspected to be ecstasy, 18.49kg of ganja , 154.25g of ketamine and 141g of Erimin-5 pills. We also confiscated various drug processing and repackaging equipment, as well as RM800 cash.” He added that trafficking trends suggest a shift towards ganja flowers. “This may be because ganja flowers have a higher hallucinogenic effect due to their purity, besides being more expensive, with an estimated market value of RM36,000 per kilogramme.” All suspects tested positive for methamphetamine and are on remand until Thursday. The case is being investigated under