KOTA KINABALU – A photo of Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin posing at a dining table serving what appears to be turtle eggs has sparked a flurry of concern and outrage among social media users.
In the image posted by Warisan vice-president Datuk Junz Wong on his Facebook page, Bung, who is Umno’s Kinabatangan MP, is seen giving the thumbs-up at a table on which a bowl of noodles and plate of white round-shaped eggs, similar to turtle eggs, is seen.
The consumption and possession of turtle eggs is illegal in Sabah as the animal is protected under the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.
In remarks accompanying the post, Wong said: “This is too much. First, there was (Datuk Seri) Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Umno) and (Datuk) James Ratib (Umno). Then, there was an ex-Umno assemblyman with turtle eggs.
“Now, Bung Moktar (Umno) with turtle eggs.”
Wong, who posted the photo on Facebook about 10am today, told The Vibes that he received it from an individual who claimed it was taken during Bung Moktar’s Hari Raya open house event.
“However, I think it is best for Bung to clarify this matter himself,” said the former Sabah state minister of agriculture and food industries.
Meanwhile, in a brief reply to The Vibes, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin, who is the minister in charge of wildlife, said his ministry will investigate the matter.
The Vibes is still trying to get a comment from Bung Moktar at the point of writing.
Earlier this year in February, a former assemblyman here came under fire after a photo of a Chinese New Year reunion dinner that included turtle eggs went viral.
A similar incident occurred with current Ismail Sabri in November 2015, when photos of him having dinner with turtle eggs served on the table at a seafood restaurant in Sandakan together with Beluran Umno chief Datuk James Ratib went viral and were widely reported on after being exposed by a local daily.
Speaking further, Wong, who is also Tanjung Aru assemblyman, stressed that a Sabah leader and lawmaker should himself comply with the country’s laws.
“We cannot have leaders who undermine the laws of our state and do it as if there’s nothing to worry about. How do we expect a normal citizen to comply with the laws when lawmakers themselves don’t even take them seriously?” he said. – The Vibes, June 25, 2021
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