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Focus Malaysia
4 days ago
- Business
- Focus Malaysia
Kadir Jasin evaluates if PKR has made a ‘prized catch' by netting the nomadic-natured Tengku Zafrul
INVESTMENT, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz has the moral obligation to give up his ministerial portfolio if he ever wishes to leave UMNO given that position was accorded to him as a UMNO member. By not resigning, he contributed a ministerial position to PKR while UMNO lost a ministerial seat at least for the time being, according to veteran journalist and blogger Datuk A. Kadir Jasin. 'We shall wait and see whether Tengku Zafrul's leap is just a puppet show or causes open war between UMNO and PKR,' he penned on his Facebook page. 'Will UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi simply ask for his party's cabinet quota to be maintained or will he object to PKR accepting Tengku Zafrul? Will he prioritise UMNO's dignity or maintain the lifeline given to him by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim?' Delving farther, Kadir deemed Tengku Zafrul as 'not a big catch for PKR' but on the contrary, would 'ease UMNO's burden' given the many stories of external interference regarding his entry into politics and his appointment as finance minister in 2020. 'He was appointed a senator and finance minister during the tenure of backdoor Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's government but his political adventure was never brilliant,' recounted the national journalism laureate. 'A job hopper' 'He lost the 15th General Election in 2022 to Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (PH-Amanah) but won a seat in the UMNO Supreme Council in 2023.' This led to the political critic in Kadir taking a swipe as Tengku Zafrul for contending that 'his image is also not as brilliant in the corporate world'. 'He is known as a job-hopper. His curriculum vitae since 1996 shows that he has changed jobs and positions 14 times. This means that he has not spent more than two years in each position,' revealed Kadir. 'As a financial specialist, Tengku Zafrul must have made mathematical calculations and statistical analysis on his chances of remaining in UMNO and moving to PKR.' With his senatorship expiring end-2025, Kadir nevertheless described as 'a slap in the face' foe Tengku Zafrul the very fact that he was 'demoted' to be a MITI minister when his ambition has been to retain his finance minister portfolio in the Madani government. 'Although the one who took over the position of Finance Minister was Anwar himself, Tengku Zafrul knows that Anwar is not an economist or financial expert,' Kadir noted. 'But it's nevertheless painful when Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, a technocrat like him, is appointed as the Second Finance Minister'. Hidden agenda Reviewing the various wild predictions and conspiracy theories surrounding Tengku Zafrul's actions, Kadir said some had commented that he (Tengku Zafrul) is less confident of UMNO's leadership or it could be that Anwar has promised something better. 'As a result, speculation arose that a Selangor Legislative Assembly by-election could be orchestrated to allow him to win easily and subsequently be appointed as Menteri Besar,' shared the former group editor-in-chief of mainstream New Straits Times. 'This has caused several quarters in PKR, including the current Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari to feel the heat although he had eventually denied such speculation. 'Moreover, the very fact that Tengku Zafrul chose to bid farewell to UMNO and offer himself to PKR occurred almost simultaneously with the Cabinet resignations of former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and ex-vice president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has caused many to assume there's hidden agenda in the pipeline.' At the end of the day, Kadir regarded Tengku Zafrul's actions have somehow brought to light the practice of party hopping that the Madani government has been being trying hard to curtail. 'Not to mention when it involves the PM's own party and that of the Deputy PM – one between the teacher and the pupil. We shall wait for the next chapter to unfold,' added Kadir. – June 3, 2025
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Passenger caught smuggling two monitor lizards at Indian Airport
KUALA LUMPUR: Indian airport authorities busted a passenger smuggling two exotic monitor lizards in his checked baggage upon arrival from Kuala Lumpur, highlighting India's lucrative illegal wildlife trade. Acting on intelligence, officers from the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) at Tiruchirappalli International Airport in Tamil Nadu, uncovered the reptiles during an inspection. "Officers of AIU Trichy airport on the basis of intelligence intercepted a passenger who arrived from Kuala Lumpur to Trichy ... and the examination of his checked in baggage resulted in the recovery of two monitor lizards," said a communication posted in the X platform of the Trichy Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate yesterday. Photos released by authorities showed the two reptiles with their mouths and limbs tightly bound before being wrapped in black cloth. Their legs were also secured with tape, highlighting the cruel methods used in wildlife smuggling. "Further investigations are ongoing," it added. NST has reached out to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) for comment. Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim last month said it had deployed 20 officers to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) as part of intensified efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade. The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) has described the smuggling of exotic wildlife through KLIA as a "national embarrassment". In a statement issued in April, CAP expressed alarm over KLIA's continued role as a major transit point in the illegal wildlife trade. In early March, two individuals boarded a flight to Chennai with a suitcase containing eight exotic animals, including Eastern Grey Gibbons, marbled polecats, a silvery lutung, and a Sumatran white-bearded palm civet, it had said in a statement. Three baby siamang gibbons were found dead. Meanwhile, Kadir said that India offers a large market, making it a prime target for wildlife smuggling syndicates. "In addition to being sold as pets, the black market there highly values rhino horns, pangolin scales, and tiger bones for traditional medicine purposes," he said. India has emerged as the main destination, accounting for nearly 73 per cent of wildlife smuggling cases. Based on the information, the airports in Chennai and Mumbai are identified as the main hubs for this illegal trade.
New Straits Times
23-05-2025
- New Straits Times
Crackdown at KLIA: Wildlife officers deployed to tackle smuggling surge
KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) has deployed 20 officers to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) as part of intensified efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade. Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said its officers have been integrated into the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (MBCA). They now work alongside other enforcement bodies, including the police, Customs Department, General Operations Force (GOF), Anti-Smuggling Unit, Health Ministry enforcers, Road Transport Department (JPJ), Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis), and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). "Through this cooperation, attempts to smuggle protected wildlife, especially to India, have been successfully thwarted at the main exit points of the country," he was quoted as saying by Harian Metro. "The rise in smuggling cases involving protected wildlife via KLIA to major Indian cities is linked to the growing demand from that country." The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) has described the smuggling of exotic wildlife through KLIA as a "national embarrassment". In a statement issued in April, CAP expressed alarm over KLIA's continued role as a major transit point in the illegal wildlife trade. In early March, two individuals boarded a flight to Chennai with a suitcase containing eight exotic animals, including Eastern Grey Gibbons, marbled polecats, a silvery lutung, and a Sumatran white-bearded palm civet, it had said in a statement. Three baby siamang gibbons were found dead. Meanwhile, Kadir said that India offers a large market, making it a prime target for wildlife smuggling syndicates. "In addition to being sold as pets, the black market there highly values rhino horns, pangolin scales, and tiger bones for traditional medicine purposes," he said. Kadir added that Perhilitan has achieved numerous successes, including the arrest of individuals attempting to smuggle various wild animals such as siamangs, turtles, orangutans, gibbons, koel birds, monitor lizards, and others to India. India has emerged as the main destination, accounting for nearly 73 per cent of wildlife smuggling cases.
New Straits Times
19-05-2025
- New Straits Times
RM5.4 million worth of protected wildlife rescued at KLIA between 2023 and 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: Between January 2023 and March 2025, an estimated RM5.4 million worth of protected wildlife species were rescued from being smuggled out through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the animals targeted for trafficking and smuggling include turtles, snakes, birds and primates, comprising local and exotic species. "To date, Perhilitan has opened 10 investigation papers related to wildlife smuggling cases through KLIA during the same period. "Most of these wild animals were being smuggled to South Asia, Indonesia and Vietnam," he told 'Harian Metro'. Kadir added that baby siamangs, iguanas, various bird species, snakes, and turtles were among the most frequently smuggled animals, either in or out of the country. The authorities were able to foil attempts to smuggle 4,200 exotic animals through KLIA, marking a 42 per cent increase compared with 2023. India recorded 56 foreign wildlife seizures in 2022, nearly half of which arrived via Kuala Lumpur. "Typically, these animals are placed in plastic containers, wrapped in boxes or adhesive material, and checked in as luggage. "However, such tactics have been thwarted in the cargo zone, thanks to intelligence work and cooperation between Perhilitan and other enforcement agencies," he said. Kadir said that illegal wildlife trade and smuggling activities could have long-term impacts, particularly on endangered species in Malaysia. In June 2024, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) donated two Belgian Malinois K9 detection dogs to Perhilitan to help combat wildlife smuggling activities at KLIA. The dogs, named Van and Perry, were imported from the Netherlands and underwent intensive training with professional handlers to detect endangered species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, such as elephant ivory, rhinoceros horns, pangolin scales, snakes and turtles.
New Straits Times
12-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Elephant mothers form strong emotional bonds with calves
KUALA LUMPUR: An elephant mother carries her calf for 22 months, and this lengthy gestation period creates a strong bond between the two, said Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim. He said a female elephant's pregnancy, the longest among land animals, highlights the significance of the mother's role in raising her calf. Kadir said the psychological bond between a mother elephant and her calf begins during pregnancy and continues through nursing and the calf's early life. "As mammals, there is both an emotional and physical bond between a mother elephant and her calf. "This relationship goes beyond the physical, it is deeply psychological," he said. He was commenting on a heartbreaking incident in which a female elephant refused to leave the body of her calf, which was killed by a trailer on the Jalan Gerik–Jeli in Perak early yesterday. Kadir said elephants, particularly the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) and African elephant (Loxodonta africana), have complex and affectionate social structures. On average, a calf nurses from its mother for two to four years. However, in some cases, this may extend up to five years. From an animal psychology perspective, Kadir said the calf not only learns to walk and forage from its mother but also develops an understanding of emotions such as empathy, affection, and grief. "Studies show that elephants can remember individuals and exhibit deep sadness when they lose a family member. "The loss of a mother or calf is a major trauma for the elephant family. " In cases of poaching, orphaned calves often show signs of depression, loss of appetite, and difficulty adapting to new groups. Similar symptoms are seen in mother elephants who lose their calves," he added.
