By: Dr. Sheila Ramalingam, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Tariqur Rahman, and Datuk Dr. Anis Yusal Yusoff

The road towards diplomacy for the sake of protecting life on land as it is stated in the UN SDG 15 in Malaysia is no doubt a long and arduous one. Nevertheless, immediate efforts must be undertaken to address the plight of the critically endangered animals in Malaysia.

However, there is no magic wand to restore and stabilize biodiversity in Malaysian Forests overnight. While both short- and mid-term strategies could be useful to address the issue of an immediate halt to further decline in biodiversity, a long-term approach would be necessary to sustain the stability of biodiversity in Malaysia.

With an immediate effect, affected States could be given more autonomy to adopt and execute short-term measures in driving wildlife, more particularly endangered ones, conservation efforts. If necessary, Federal funding must be dispensed for the efforts.

For example, protecting the endangered Malayan tiger which is mostly indigenous in Terengganu could be entrusted to the state. The relevant state authorities must devise a comprehensive strategic plan from mapping the feeding and roaming grounds of the Malayan tiger, to ensuring adequate on-the-ground manpower to patrol for illegal activities.

Should there be any possibility that the Malayan tiger’s feeding and roaming grounds cross into neighbouring States such as Kedah and Pahang, Terengganu can act as the key state to cooperate and collaborate with the neighbouring states on measures to save the Malayan tiger.

It may be more conducive for States to negotiate among themselves, as they are of the same coordinate status, and are more readily understanding of each other’s economic, political, and social standing.

Simultaneously, as a Mid-term measure, the legal framework on wildlife conservation both at Federal and State Government levels must be strengthened. There must be a holistic approach to wildlife conservation, which means that all laws relating to wildlife must be amended so that they are to be read together.

For example, a law enforcement officer (whether from the Department of Environment, Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Department of Forestry, police, etc) should be empowered to track down and arrest poachers or any person carrying out illegal activities about wildlife or its surrounding habitat.

Further, the relevant legislation should also be amended to provide for stiffer penalties for wildlife-related crimes.

Finally, a long-term solution could be planned involving all stakeholders. This will include the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change; the Department of Wildlife and National Parks; the Economic Planning Unit; National and State Forestry Departments; the relevant departments from Sabah and Sarawak; State Governments; and NGOs and experts from public universities or international organizations.

The idea is to come up with a master blueprint of binding policies, legislation, or action plans to accommodate the following considerations:

Provide stricter penalties for illegal activities involving wildlife to weed out systemic corruption especially those involved in the illegal wildlife trade;

mapping of routes frequented by endangered animals for either gazetting the same as protected areas or ensuring that the development undertaken in those areas have little impact on the wildlife roaming those areas;

ensuring stricter enforcement of wildlife laws by increasing the number of on-the-ground enforcement officers and patrol guards including local indigenous communities

While financial implications for the proposed mid-term solution are minimal as it only involves amending the relevant legislation, the expenses for the long-term solution could be substantial. Nevertheless, for a long-term solution funds can be allocated periodically following the National Five-Year Plans or yearly Budget allocations.

However, an immediate budget is to be allocated by the Federal Government to each of the State Governments to conserve their chosen wildlife to protect for the short-term solution. The budget must take into consideration the size of protected areas within a State including proposed protected areas, the State’s plan of action on conservation efforts, and the quantity of increased personnel required.

For a short-term solution, personnel consisting of ecology experts, scientists, enforcement personnel, and patrol guards on the ground to monitor poaching and other illegal activities may be contracted for any short-term project to save the wildlife chosen by a State.

The proposed amendments for a long-term solution can be undertaken by the Drafting Division within the Attorney-General’s Chambers that would involve personnel who are ecology experts, scientists, enforcement personnel as well as patrol guards on the ground to monitor poaching and other illegal activities. These personnel must be employed on a long-term basis to ensure the survival of all wildlife in Malaysia.

Although there are laws in place to protect wildlife in Malaysia, these laws have restricted application, implementation, and enforcement for various reasons including the absence of an integrative approach across the sectors; systemic corruption; and the areas of jurisdiction of the Federal and State Governments as defined in the Federal Constitution that lead to non-uniform implementation between states.

In order to fulfil its SDG Goal No. 15, Malaysia has to seriously act and come up with a strategic and workable plan to protect its wildlife before they are gone forever.

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_{Prof. Dr. Mohammad Tariqur Rahman is the Associate Dean (Continuing Education), Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya (UM). Dr. Sheila Ramalingam is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, UM. Datuk Dr. Anis Yusal Yusoff is the Director of UM LEAD; Former President and CEO of the Malaysian Institute of Integrity; Director General of National Department for Good Governance & Integrity (JITN); Deputy DG of GIACC, PM’s Department.}