29/07/2025

TUESDAY | JULY 29, 2025 5 Ganja flowers worth RM10m confiscated KOTA BHARU: The Customs Department foiled an attempt to smuggle 102.17kg of ganja flowers worth more than RM10 million in operations conducted at the Rantau Panjang Free Duty Zone on April 23. Kelantan Customs director Wan Jamal Abdul Salam Wan Long said the first seizure involved 88 transparent plastic packets suspected of containing ganja flowers in three bags found at Gate One of the duty-free zone at 10.30am. He said the second seizure was from a female motorcyclist who was found carrying a bag with 32 transparent plastic packets containing a similar substance. “Following investigation, the woman led the Customs team to the Rantau Panjang Express Bus Stop at 11am, where the team arrested a man and a woman after finding two bags containing 60 transparent plastic packets suspected of containing ganja flowers.“ He said overall, six bags containing 180 packets of ganja flowers estimated to be worth RM10,013,444 were seized. “The syndicate’s modus operandi was to smuggle ganja flowers through illegal bases along Sungai Golok, before bringing them into the Rantau Panjang Free Duty Zone area. “The suspects arrested are locals aged between 30 and 45. The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.“ – Bernama Cops nab trio, seize 930 fighting cocks KUALA LUMPUR: Police seized 936 fighting cocks of Philippine breed and arrested three men, including two foreigners, in Papar, Sabah on Friday. Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Azmi Abu Kassim said the 10.35am raid at Kampung Kambizaan, Jalan Kayau Kambizaan, in collaboration with the Kota Kinabalu branch of the Veterinary Services Department, resulted in a total seizure estimated at RM4.7 million. “Among the items seized were 30 iron cages, 107 tagging rods from the Philippines, and various vitamins and medications for the birds,” he said in a statement yesterday, adding that those arrested, including the Indonesian and Filipino, are aged between 38 and 59. They are being investigated under Section 15(1) of the Animals Enactment 2015 for allegedly importing animals without a licence. Azmi said police also conducted 179 raids nationwide and arrested 314 individuals for various offences, including smuggling of non-duty paid goods, leakage of controlled and subsidised items, sale of imitation weapons and wildlife trafficking. – Bernama Man loses savings to vehicle sale scam KUALA TERENGGANU: A bank officer has lost his savings, including his Employees Provident Fund, totalling RM241,700 to an online vehicle purchase scam. Kuala Terengganu police chief ACP Azli Mohd Noor said the incident began on July 4 when the 52-year-old came across an advertisement for a used four-wheel-drive vehicle on Facebook. He said the victim began communicating with an alleged seller via WhatsApp and was instructed to give a copy of his identity card and a sum of money as an advance payment to a representative of the individual’s company, claimed to be based in Port Klang, Selangor. “Between July 9 and 21, the victim made 40 payments to eight accounts. The victim began to feel cheated when asked to make an additional payment of RM31,000 for fingerprinting costs at the Customs Department.“ Azli said the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code. – Bernama

Pop-up zoos condemned for exploitative practices

o Exhibits cause suffering for animals, with inadequate enclosures and lack of veterinary oversight: NGO

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

recommended criminal action against several Immigration Department officers found to have abused their power by illegally issuing visas for medical purposes to foreigners. The EAIC said the investigation, carried out by a special task force led by EAIC commissioner Datuk Seri Dr Razali Ab Malik, focused on the issuance of social visit passes under the medical visa category to foreigners from several countries without going through the proper process. It said the probe included reviewing approval procedures, recording witness statements, seizing documents and preparing recommendations for further action. “The investigation found that there was PETALING JAYA: Leashed to a chair and pacing beside a donation box, a meerkat at a Kuala Lumpur mall has become the face of growing public outrage over animal exploitation in Malaysia’s booming pop-up zoo industry. The TikTok video that exposed the scene lasted less than a minute but the backlash was swift. Viewers flooded the comments, calling the display “cruel”, “heartbreaking” and “a disgrace”. In the background, shoppers walked by, seemingly unfazed by the small, visibly distressed animal tethered in place for public amusement. Animal welfare groups say what the public saw is just the surface of a much darker problem. “These animals are not suited for confined spaces or constant human interaction,” said Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia president Kalaivanan Ravichandran, condemning the use of exotic species in temporary public exhibits. “Using them for entertainment disrupts their natural behaviour, and causes physical and psychological stress.” He said the conditions in many of these pop-up exhibits amount to prolonged suffering for the animals. Often operating in legal grey areas, these setups use exotic species as photo props with little oversight or enforcement. “Most of these setups prioritise profit over proper animal care. We often see signs of stress in the animals, inadequate enclosures and a lack of veterinary oversight,” he said, adding that their use is often unethical and lacks genuine educational or conservation value. He questioned whether operators comply with the Animal Welfare Act 2015, which outlines minimum standards for housing, handling and exhibiting animals. Under the law, organisers must obtain permits from the Veterinary Services Department and Wildlife and National Parks Department, with regular inspections. “All parties involved, such as event

Kalaivanan appealed to the public to report suspected abuse and stop supporting entertainment that exploits animals. – SUNPIC

In 2020, several immigration personnel were arrested over a syndicate that issued fraudulent temporary work passes to foreign workers. That case exposed systemic weaknesses in the approval process, including forged documents and bribes paid to bypass background checks. In 2022, the EAIC opened a separate investigation into immigration officers accused of colluding with private agents to issue long-term passes to foreign nationals using forged medical letters and false employment records. The commission said the latest case highlights concerns about accountability within the department, especially involving visa categories that are vulnerable to exploitation. – Bernama even erase natural behaviours, such as burrowing, climbing or basking. Salehatul warned that cramped conditions and improper flooring could cause musculoskeletal issues while poor diets and irregular feeding may lead to obesity or malnutrition. “Temporary setups often fail to maintain species-appropriate temperature and humidity. This increases the risk of dehydration, respiratory distress and even organ failure.” Inadequate hygiene and close public contact also raise the risk of parasitic infections, skin diseases and the transmission of zoonotic illnesses. “A high standard of veterinary care is essential when displaying exotic animals in public settings.” She added that this includes health screenings, regular checkups, behavioural monitoring and proper documentation. “A veterinarian must assess whether an animal is fit for public display. No animal should be forced to interact or perform under stress or poor health conditions.” She noted that event operators are required to have a qualified veterinarian either on-site or on-call throughout the exhibition period. She urged the public to reconsider the ethics of these exhibits. “We need to move away from wildlife encounters that prioritise entertainment over welfare. It is time to shift public perception and stop supporting such practices.”

abuse of power by immigration officers who approved medical visas to foreigners from several countries, despite being aware that the application documents submitted were incomplete and did not comply with the criteria under the Malaysian Immigration Circular No. 10/2001.” Following these findings, the EAIC decided to refer the case to the Attorney-General’s Chambers in accordance with Paragraph 30(1)(c) of the EAIC Act 2009. The EAIC said criminal charges have been recommended against the officers involved under the Penal Code, the Immigration Act 1959/63 and/or the Passports Act 1966. This is not the first time immigration officers have come under investigation for abuse of power related to visa approvals. organisers, zoo operators and venue providers, must be held accountable. Organisers must uphold ethical standards, operators must ensure the animals’ welfare and venues must enforce compliance with the law.” Kalaivanan also called for stronger enforcement by authorities. “Laws are only effective when properly enforced. We urge both departments to adopt a firmer stance.” He appealed to the public to report suspected abuse and stop supporting entertainment that exploits animals. “Animals deserve to be treated with dignity. If you witness mistreatment, do not stay silent. Speak up and report it. Together, we can create a society that protects and respects all living beings.” Veterinarian Dr Salehatul Khuzaimah Mohamad Ali said exotic animals, such as meerkats, are especially vulnerable to stress in captive environments. “Meerkats are highly sensitive and could develop chronic stress when subjected to unfamiliar environments and constant human interaction. This stress weakens their immune system, making them more susceptible to illness.” She added that such animals may exhibit stereotypic behaviours (repetitive, unnatural actions, such as pacing or head bobbing), which are signs of mental distress. Without appropriate shelter or hiding places, they could become aggressive or withdrawn. Long-term confinement could

Criminal action advised against corrupt officers PUTRAJAYA: The Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) has