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Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Straits Times
Malaysia sees spike in exotic animal smuggling cases
The smuggling of exotic wildlife from Malaysia to India is driven by several factors, such as demand in regions where wildlife is often kept as pets. PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK PETALING JAYA - Economic hardship and growing online sale of wildlife through social media platforms are among key factors that have led to the increase in the smuggling of exotic animals in Malaysia . As a result, the country has inadvertently been used as a place of transit. Referring to several recent cases, Malaysia's Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the smuggling of exotic wildlife to India is driven by several factors, such as a demand in certain regions in the country where wildlife is often kept as pets. 'Malaysia is one of the countries with a supply of local and exotic wildlife that attracts smugglers (main players) in India,' he told The Star. 'Intelligence findings indicate that most exotic wildlife species are smuggled in from neighbouring countries and temporarily transited through Malaysia before being sent to destination countries such as India, Vietnam and others.' According to Mr Nik Nazmi, another major reason was economic hardship, which has led some individuals to act as smuggling mules. 'They are enticed by rewards such as cash or travel incentives to carry wildlife in or out of the country via checked luggage,' he said. 'The smuggling activities are also rampant due to the growing online sale of wildlife through social media platforms.' The minister said that wildlife commonly smuggled into India include the red-eared slider turtle, the green iguana (American iguana), the African spurred tortoise and the green tree python. He added that primates such as the Siamang, white-handed gibbon and agile gibbon and birds such as the Bali myna are also popular among smugglers. To address the rising number of smuggling cases to India, Mr Nik Nazmi said Malaysia's Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) is working in collaboration with the police's Wildlife Crime Bureau (WCB) and Interpol. 'The police are currently conducting further investigations and uncovering wildlife smuggling activities abroad, based on recent arrest cases involving foreign nationals, particularly from India,' he added. 'The WCB and Interpol have also launched further investigations with assistance from the Indian authorities to uncover the smuggling crime network.' To curb smuggling activities as a whole, Mr Nik Nazmi said Perhilitan is working with Malaysia Airports Holdings (MAHB) and the Customs Department to combat smuggling activities at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Other measures undertaken are the implementation of the Integrated Khazanah Operations involving multiple enforcement agencies such as the Customs Department and the aviation security division (Avsec) of Malaysia Airport Holdings. 'There are wildlife inspection and enforcement operations conducted on passenger baggage and items entering or exiting through international departure or arrival gates at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of KLIA,' he said. 'This is done in compliance with the provisions of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716) and the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008 (Act 686), alongside Avsec.' Mr Nik Nazmi added that joint operations by Perhilitan's K9 detection unit, particularly at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of KLIA and the KLIA Cargo area, are also conducted. 'Currently, the department has four detection dogs - two Belgian Malinois, one Labrador and one Dutch Shepherd,' he said. 'Last year, MAHB also supported the K9 unit by contributing two additional dogs. The K9 unit conducts operations nationwide at other international airports across Peninsular Malaysia.' Mr Nik Nazmi also highlighted cooperation with other enforcement agencies at KLIA through joint and special operations . Authorities are also collaborating with international agencies such as Interpol Environmental Security Programme and the World Customs Organisation in annual operations to prevent more smuggling cases. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
19-05-2025
- The Star
Spike in exotic animal smuggling
PETALING JAYA: Economic hardship and growing online sale of wildlife through social media platforms are among key factors that have led to the increase in the smuggling of exotic animals. As a result, Malaysia has inadvertently been used as a place of transit. Referring to several latest cases, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the smuggling of exotic wildlife to India is driven by several factors such as a demand in certain regions in the country where wildlife is often kept as pets. 'Malaysia is one of the countries with a supply of local and exotic wildlife that attracts smugglers (main players) in India. 'Intelligence findings indicate that most exotic wildlife species are smuggled in from neighbouring countries and temporarily transited through Malaysia before being sent to destination countries such as India, Vietnam and others,' he told The Star. Nik Nazmi said another major reason was economic hardship which has led some individuals to act as smuggling mules. 'They are enticed by rewards such as cash or travel incentives to carry wildlife in or out of the country via checked luggage. 'The smuggling activities are also rampant due to the growing online sale of wildlife through social media platforms,' he said. The minister said among the wildlife that are commonly smuggled into India were the red-eared slider turtle or its scientific name Trachemys scripta elegans, followed by green iguana (American iguana), African spurred tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata) and green tree python (Morelia viridis). He said primates such as the Siamang, white-handed gibbon and agile gibbon and birds such as the Bali myna are also popular among smugglers. To address the rising number of smuggling cases to India, Nik Nazmi said the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) is working in collaboration with the police's Wildlife Crime Bureau (WCB) and Interpol. 'The police are currently conducting further investigations and uncovering wildlife smuggling activities abroad, based on recent arrest cases involving foreign nationals, particularly from India. 'The WCB and Interpol have also launched further investigations with assistance from the Indian authorities to uncover the smuggling crime network,' he added. To curb smuggling activities as a whole, Nik Nazmi said Perhilitan is working with Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) and the Customs Department to combat smuggling activities at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Other measures undertaken are the implementation of the Integrated Khazanah Operations involving multiple enforcement agencies such as the Customs Department and the aviation security division (AVSEC) of MAHB. 'There are wildlife inspection and enforcement operations conducted on passenger baggage and items entering or exiting through international departure or arrival gates at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of KLIA. 'This is done in compliance with the provisions of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716) and the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008 (Act 686), alongside AVSEC,' he said. Nik Nazmi added that joint operations by Perhilitan's K9 detection unit, particularly at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of KLIA and the KLIA Cargo area, are also conducted. 'Currently, the department has four detection dogs; two Belgian Malinois, one Labrador and one Dutch Shepherd. 'Last year, MAHB also supported the K9 unit by contributing two additional dogs. 'The K9 unit conducts operations nationwide at other international airports across Peninsular Malaysia,' he said. Nik Nazmi also highlighted cooperation with other enforcement agencies at KLIA through joint and special operations such as Ops Paison, Ops Sambar, Ops Task Force Wildlife Smuggling, Ops AVSEC and Ops WCB Perhilitan. He also shared collaboration with international agencies such as Interpol Environmental Security Programme and the World Customs Organisation in annual operations such as Operation Thunder (2020, 2021) and Operation Golden Strike (2022, 2023) to prevent more smuggling cases.
Winnipeg Free Press
02-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
WCB's $122-M rebates to to employers misdirected, unions complain
Manitoba's unions are questioning the decision by the Workers Compensation Board to distribute $122 million in rebates to employers — and the NDP's decision to tout the rebates as a way to support those employers during a trade war. 'There are very clear needs for the WCB to do much more to prevent workplace injuries and deaths,' the Manitoba Federation of Labour said in a news release. The provincial government issued a news release Thursday announcing that it has provided approximately $962 million in relief and support for workers and businesses impacted by tariffs from China and the United States. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES It said payroll and retail sales tax deferrals announced March 10 provided businesses approximately $840 million of liquidity for February, March and April. In the release, Finance Minister Adrien Sala said the Workers Compensation Board is issuing $122 million in rebates 'for all employers to support businesses and help keep workers on the job.' 'We are concerned that the NDP government is touting this payout as some sort of business-support program,' MFL president Kevin Rebeck said. 'Last time I checked, the WCB does not have a mandate to provide business subsidies or economic development support. Instead, the WCB's job is to keep workers safe and to support workers and their families with workplace injuries and deaths.' Sala was not available to comment Thursday. The WCB was established in 1917 after passage of the Workers Compensation Act. Injured workers gave up the right to sue employers in exchange for guaranteed no-fault benefits, and employers agreed to fund the system in return for protection from lawsuits. The WCB insures more than 40,000 employers and covers 73 per cent of Manitoba's workforce. It's governed by a board of 10 directors appointed by the provincial government from nominations submitted by labour, employers and the public. The WCB said Thursday eligible employers will receive a credit equivalent to 50 per cent of their 2024 premium. Individual premiums are, in part, based on each employer's claims experience, it said. The $122 million surplus is the result of WCB 'maintaining financial stability due to strong investment and financial management,' the board said. Labour Minister Malaya Marcelino, the minister responsible for the WCB, said the province doesn't tell the board what to do with a surplus. 'This decision was made by the WCB board,' Marcelino said. The government news release touting tax deferrals and WCB rebates 'was an acknowledgment that Manitoba businesses are going through a difficult time right now,' she said. 'It's no secret that there might be a recession coming and it's not an easy time for Manitoba businesses,' she said. Businesses are facing rising input costs, labour shortages and low consumer demand, said Brianna Solberg, prairie spokesperson for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. The CFIB wants legislation mandating that all WCB surplus funds are returned to employers. 'Workers' compensation premiums are one of the most burdensome taxes for small firms because they're profit-insensitive,' said CFIB policy analyst Tyler Slobogian. 'Business owners appreciate getting some of that money back, but they shouldn't have to wait and hope for discretionary rebates.' The federation also wants Manitoba to get rid of the payroll tax, not just defer it. The province is preparing for a 10-year legislative review of the Workers Compensation Act that will hear from workers, the board and employers, Marcelino said. Wednesdays A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future. 'Our goal is always to have labour peace. We can accomplish that by working together and having proper consultation,' she said. 'We do get a lot of concerns from workers about whether or not the WCB is fairly compensating them. It's important that we're standing up for workers' safety, health, their rights.' In 2024, Manitoba recorded 18 workplace-related deaths, the MFL said. In the last decade, there have been 236 fatalities. Manitoba averages about 25,000 workplace injuries a year. In 2023, 25,624 were reported. Rebeck said the WCB surplus would be better spent on preventing workplace injuries, illnesses, deaths and supporting injured workers. Carol SandersLegislature reporter Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol. Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
New Straits Times
23-04-2025
- New Straits Times
Patrol team deployed to Kalabakan to prevent elephant killings
KOTA KINABALU: Authorities in Sabah have deployed an active patrol team to prevent the merciless killing of elephants. State Wildlife director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar said they are working closely with the Sabah Forestry Department to monitor elephant activity, especially in the Kalabakan area of Tawau. He said the General Operations Force is also prepared to assist once the Sabah Wildlife Department to obtain concrete information to combat wildlife crimes. This year alone, three Borneo pygmy elephants — the world's smallest elephant species — were found decapitated in the area. ( The Sabah government had also offered RM10,000 for those who have information that could lead to prosecutions for the crimes. "We have held a meeting with the Wildlife Crime Intelligence Committee (WCIC) and the policce Wildlife Crime Bureau (WCB). "Together with WCB and the Sabah Forestry Department, we currently have a patrol team in place. "When elephants are spotted in the area, the patrol team will report their locations," Soffian said during the World Wildlife Day Appreciation Night held at a hotel here. Also present was Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment permanent secretary Datuk Josie Lai, representing Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew. Soffian added that his department plans to place a tracking collar on one of the elephants next month to better monitor their movements. He added that the department was working with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to gather intelligence from neighbouring countries to help tackle wildlife crime. When asked for updates on the killing of the three elephants, Soffian said the department has informants and is currently gathering concrete evidence. "From our investigation, we believe this wasn't carried out by a single individual; it was a group. When it's a group, we can't act too hastily, or we risk losing the entire network. "That's why, even though we have suspects, we need to wait for the right time to carry out an ambush." Commenting on the recently launched Human-Elephant Conflict-Earthworm Standard Operating Procedures, Soffian said it was intended for the community, especially rangers who handle elephant-related conflicts. He said the team, upon receiving and verifying information on elephant sightings, would notify the authorities and ensure the safety of the surrounding community. The SOP also aims to improve documentation and address issues related to human-elephant coexistence. The estimated Bornean elephant population in Sabah stands at around 1,500 animals. These elephants are a fully protected species under Schedule 1 of the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.
