KUCHING, May 31: Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Dato Abdul Rahman Sebli has put forward a proposition to amend the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998 to enhance the effectiveness of penalties for wildlife crimes by increasing the duration of imprisonment, rather than relying solely on fines.
This measure is intended to serve as a stronger deterrent against such offenses.
Drawing attention to the severity of wildlife crimes, Abdul Rahman firmly asserted that wildlife crimes should be treated as serious offenses rather than mere civil wrongdoings due to the substantial damage caused by offenders to the environment and the health risks they pose.
It was raised during a workshop jointly organised by the Sarawak Courts Working Group on Environment (SWGE), Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia held at SFC’s Kuching Regional Office in Semenggoh on May 13.
According to a media release issued by WWF-Malaysia today, the workshop aimed to provide judges with information and resources on wildlife and wildlife crime management in Sarawak.
Abdul Rahman, who graced and presided over the one-day workshop, highlighted the importance for judges to broaden their understanding of wildlife conservation and related crimes, to ensure fair sentencing for offenders.
The workshop showcased their unwavering commitment to wildlife conservation and protection efforts.
Esteemed speakers from SFC, WWF-Malaysia, Wildlife Conservation Society-Malaysia Programme and Sarawak Attorney-General’s Chambers delivered insightful presentations on various topics, including the importance of wildlife conservation and challenges, cultural significance of wildlife, wildlife crimes within Sarawak and in Southeast Asia, enforcement and prosecution activities, as well as relevant laws and regulations.
Additionally, the participants had the opportunity to visit the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre in the afternoon.
The workshop is part of SWGE and WWF-Malaysia ongoing efforts to collaborate with the judiciary and enforcement agencies for better wildlife conservation and protection.
Last year in June, the Sarawak Sentencing Guidelines for Wildlife Crimes were launched in collaboration with SWGE, WWF-Malaysia and SFC.
To further improve the understanding of judges on wildlife and its protection in Sarawak, a series of awareness and capacity building activities were proposed as part of their continuous efforts. — DayakDaily
