Currently, wild animals in Peninsular Malaysia are protected by the Protection of Wild Life Act 1972. This 35-year-old law is severely outdated and riddled with loopholes.

There is a serious need for the Malaysian government to remedy the loopholes and beef up the law, as many species continue to be poached and illegally traded at alarming rates. Wildlife offenders often escape arrest, prosecution and punishment.

We need this law to be urgently reviewed comprehensively and amended.

Examples of amendments needed:

That all products containing or claiming it contains parts of totally protected species to be made illegal.

That mandatory jail sentences and stiffer fines are imposed for serious wildlife offences.

Please extensively review and amend the current law, and seek public input in this process.