Latest news with #JusticeforWildlifeMalaysia
Borneo Post
03-06-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Officers trained to fight wildlife trafficking in Sabah
The participants of the Comprehensive Wildlife Crime Investigation and Prosecution Workshop. KOTA KINABALU (June 3): Sabah Parks, in collaboration with Justice for Wildlife Malaysia and Kota Kinabalu Working Group on Environment (KKCWGE), has successfully concluded a specialised four-day workshop from May 20 to 23, focused on wildlife crime investigation and prosecution techniques. The comprehensive training programme brought together law enforcement officers and legal professionals to strengthen Sabah's capacity in combating illegal wildlife trade. This workshop was part of the Justice for Wildlife Malaysia's ongoing efforts to conduct a sensitization program for effective prosecution under the SHIELD (Sabah Harmonized Intelligence, Enforcement, and Legal Defense Against Wildlife Crimes) initiatives. The workshop, 'Bengkel Berfokus Siasatan dan Pendakwaan Jenayah Hidupan Liar Taman-Taman Sabah,' covered critical aspects of wildlife crime enforcement including Malaysia's criminal justice system, digital evidence management from social media platforms, comprehensive search and seizure operations, specialised wildlife evidence handling procedures, and courtroom testimony preparation for investigating officers. The programme emphasised practical application through live demonstrations and group exercises. Participants engaged in realistic scenarios covering vehicle searches, premises inspections, arrest procedures, body searches, and evidence collection protocols. The training culminated with a mock trial session conducted at the Kota Kinabalu Court Complex under the supervision of judge Ferhanshah Farene, a deputy registrar of the High Court of Kota Kinabalu, providing participants with authentic courtroom experience. A distinguished team delivered the workshop for law enforcement professionals, including ASP Tobias Anthony Banding, DSP Ahmad Fauzi bin Ibrahim, DSP Tan Hiap Wah, JWM's legal advisor Dato' Rosli, and Sabah Wildlife Department's head of prosecution, Primus Lambut. This diverse expertise ensured comprehensive coverage of operational and legal aspects of wildlife crime investigation. This initiative represents a significant advancement in Sabah's wildlife conservation efforts, directly addressing the critical need for specialised law enforcement capabilities in combating wildlife trafficking. The training supports Malaysia's commitment to international conservation agreements and strengthens its ability to protect its unique biodiversity heritage. The collaboration between Sabah Parks, Justice for Wildlife Malaysia and Kota Kinabalu Court Working Group on Environment exemplifies the importance of strategic partnerships in wildlife protection. By combining government enforcement capabilities with specialised NGO expertise, the programme creates a more robust and effective response to wildlife crime threats. Participants completed the programme with enhanced capabilities in evidence collection, case preparation, digital evidence management, and court presentation, essential skills for successful wildlife crime prosecutions. The knowledge and techniques acquired will immediately apply to ongoing conservation enforcement efforts across Sabah's protected areas and beyond. The workshop's success demonstrates Sabah's commitment to remaining at the forefront of wildlife crime prevention and prosecution, ensuring that those who threaten the state's precious wildlife resources face the full force of the law.
South China Morning Post
28-01-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Trump's aid freeze ‘severely impacted' Malaysian group's conservation efforts
A small Malaysian wildlife conservation group said it faces financial ruin after US President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day blanket freeze on foreign aid, as the ripple effect of Washington's policy turn threatens Southeast Asian wildlife preservation groups reliant on grants. Arlina Ghani, co-founder of Justice for Wildlife Malaysia (JWMYS), which monitors wildlife court cases and provides training for rangers, said the shift has already 'severely impacted' their work. 'We have always relied on grants for our work. It is not sustainable nor ideal, but work such as ours is – while crucial – sadly not sexy. I understand this,' Arlina said in a social media post on Monday evening. The group, which protects Malaysia's unique and fragile wildlife by training conservationists on the law surrounding wildlife trafficking cases, said it is scrambling for new funding sources to pay staff as it faces a three-month freeze on at least two grants from Washington. There is no guarantee that the grants will be renewed. 'We have a contingency, but it is simply not enough to cover the salaries we need for these three months,' Arlina said, stressing that they are 'a very small grass roots NGO (non-governmental organisations)'. The United States is the largest donor of aid globally, disbursing over US$72 billion in 2023.
