Authority to take action against restaurants that serve wildlife meat
The Star/ANN | Thu Nov 22 2012
Malaysians are now more aware of the need to preserve the wildlife and natural environment.
Ipoh, November 22, 2012
More people are coming forward to lodge complaints with the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) that wildlife meat is being served in restaurants, Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abd Rasid Samsudin said.
He said Malaysians are now more aware of the need to preserve the wildlife and natural environment.
"We treat every complaint seriously and take immediate action on them," he said after launching a seminar on Biodiversity 2012 here yesterday.
Abd Rasid also said his department found cases of restaurant patrons who were served beef instead of deer meat.
Meanwhile, a restaurant was raided on suspicion of selling exotic wildlife but the complaint was found to be untrue.
In his speech, Abd Rasid said the seminar should be used to share information on the department's biodiversity research and inventory programme.
The programme was a joint effort between the department, universities, non-governmental organisations and research agencies, he added.
"Malaysia has been certified by the United Nations as one of the 12 countries rich in biological diversity.
"Therefore scientists, specialists and researchers must protect, preserve and benefit from the forests for medicine, food and heritage purposes," he added.
The department carried out an inventory programme at Tioman Island Wildlife Reserve between March and April last year and its findings were documented.
"The effort is one step in ensuring the country becomes a centre of excellence in the field of research and conservation," he added.
Abd Rasid later launched a book on the biodiversity of Pulau Tioman.
