Still hungry for info on police's turtle eggs feast
Tony ThienPublished: May 15, 2009 5:28 AM | Updated: May 15, 2009 10:33 AM
When Sarawak police threw a bash in Kuching to welcome their top brass from the Peninsular two months ago, little did they know that they were doing something illegal - their dinner menu included banned turtle eggs.
When Sarawak police threw a bash in Kuching to welcome their top brass from the Peninsular two months ago, little did they know that they were doing something illegal - their dinner menu included banned turtle eggs.
DAP state assemblyperson for Pending Violet Yong, who made a police report on March 4 against the force for consuming banned turtle eggs, is still waiting for answers.
“This matter is of international interest as law enforcers from both Bukit Aman and Sarawak police were caught with their pants down serving an illegal delicacy during one of their official dinner functions on Feb 28 at Batu Kawah,” she told the state assembly yesterday.
“So far, there has been an eerie silence on the issue, both from the police and Sarawak Forestry Corporation, which is in charge of wildlife protection,” Yong (left) added.
The turtle eggs feast was reported in the local media following the reception in honour of the visiting police personnel from Kuala Lumpur.
‘What irks me most is not only was I approached a couple of times by so-called friends of the police to keep a lid on the controversy, I was even asked if I want to meet the police to discuss the matter. This was done maybe to induce me or to threaten me,’ she told the assembly.
“Why should there be a double standard for the very institution that is tasked to protect and uphold the law? Whenever the public was caught with turtle eggs, they were expediently charged.’
“But here, we have the senior officers from Bukit Aman and the Sarawak police seen with hard evidence showing turtle eggs on each table during the dinner ... and yet, no action is taken.’
Borneo Post has published a photo showing turtles eggs being served at the dinner.
Under the law, "anyone found guilty of possessing turtles, whether dead or alive, or their parts, or their eggs, faces a fine of RM25,000 and jail of up to two years".
Sack Sarawak’s wildlife protector
According to Yong, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) controller Len Talif Salleh should take responsibility and resign for claiming that the turtle eggs were from Indonesia.
She pointed that it did not matter whether the eggs were from Indonesia or elsewhere as they came from protected species,” the DAP representative said.
All marine turtle species are protected internationally, including Sarawak.
Under Malaysian law, it is illegal to collect turtle eggs without a permit from the Fisheries Department, but a steady demand for turtle products and eggs in Southeast Asia continues to drive the illegal trade.
Environmental group WWF has launched a campaign to stop Malaysians eating turtle eggs, in a bid to help save the marine creatures from extinction.
The five-month online campaign aims to collect 40,000 signatures from Malaysians pledging to stop consuming the eggs and halt the trade in turtles.
DAP state assemblyperson for Pending Violet Yong, who made a police report on March 4 against the force for consuming banned turtle eggs, is still waiting for answers.
“This matter is of international interest as law enforcers from both Bukit Aman and Sarawak police were caught with their pants down serving an illegal delicacy during one of their official dinner functions on Feb 28 at Batu Kawah,” she told the state assembly yesterday.
“So far, there has been an eerie silence on the issue, both from the police and Sarawak Forestry Corporation, which is in charge of wildlife protection,” Yong (left) added.The turtle eggs feast was reported in the local media following the reception in honour of the visiting police personnel from Kuala Lumpur.
‘What irks me most is not only was I approached a couple of times by so-called friends of the police to keep a lid on the controversy, I was even asked if I want to meet the police to discuss the matter. This was done maybe to induce me or to threaten me,’ she told the assembly.
“Why should there be a double standard for the very institution that is tasked to protect and uphold the law? Whenever the public was caught with turtle eggs, they were expediently charged.’
“But here, we have the senior officers from Bukit Aman and the Sarawak police seen with hard evidence showing turtle eggs on each table during the dinner ... and yet, no action is taken.’
Borneo Post has published a photo showing turtles eggs being served at the dinner.
Under the law, "anyone found guilty of possessing turtles, whether dead or alive, or their parts, or their eggs, faces a fine of RM25,000 and jail of up to two years".
Sack Sarawak’s wildlife protector
According to Yong, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) controller Len Talif Salleh should take responsibility and resign for claiming that the turtle eggs were from Indonesia.
She pointed that it did not matter whether the eggs were from Indonesia or elsewhere as they came from protected species,” the DAP representative said.
All marine turtle species are protected internationally, including Sarawak.Under Malaysian law, it is illegal to collect turtle eggs without a permit from the Fisheries Department, but a steady demand for turtle products and eggs in Southeast Asia continues to drive the illegal trade.
Environmental group WWF has launched a campaign to stop Malaysians eating turtle eggs, in a bid to help save the marine creatures from extinction.
The five-month online campaign aims to collect 40,000 signatures from Malaysians pledging to stop consuming the eggs and halt the trade in turtles.
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