MIRI – Two Indonesian men each received a RM2,000 fine and six months’ jail sentence after pleading guilty to possessing protected wild birds at the sessions court in Sibu today.
The Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) in a statement said enforcement officers in an operation codenamed Op Burung arrested the duo – Asnan and Hairul Aziz.
“The enforcement team seized four protected Murai Batu and one wild Murai Kampung from Asnan; and, four protected Murai Batu, one protected Tiong, 19 wild Merbuk, three wild Murai Kampung and one wild Tekukur from Hairul Aziz.
“The duo were charged under Section 29(2) of the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998 for possessing protected birds, and Sections 37(1) and 37(2)(c) of the same ordinance for possessing wild birds.”
Those with information on illegal wildlife activities are urged to report them to SFC via its hotlines: 019-885-9996 in Kuching, 019-829-0994 (Miri), 019-888-3561 (Sibu) and 019-833-2737 (Bintulu).
US pledges US$1 mil for Sabah wildlife conservation
KOTA KINABALU – Sabah welcomed a US$1 million (RM4.2 million) pledge from the United States (US) for local wildlife conservation efforts.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor said this will complement the ongoing wildlife protection programme in Sabah, and strengthen bilateral ties with the US.
Referring to his call with US ambassador to Malaysia Brian D. McFeeters yesterday, he said the donation will speed up efforts against the challenges posed by Covid-19.
Washington had recently donated one million doses of the coronavirus vaccine to Putrajaya and pledged additional pandemic assistance to the Malaysian Red Crescent Society.
Sabah hits record high 2,103 Covid-19 cases
KOTA KINABALU – Sabah recorded its highest number of daily coronavirus cases to date today, with 2,103 infections.
Kota Kinabalu is the district with the most cases with 467, followed by Tawau (255), Sandakan (208), Keningau (163) and Penampang (135).
Also recorded are another 15 deaths and one cluster – the Sawit Baiduri cluster at Felda Sahabat Lahad Datu, involving an oil palm plantation.
The index case is a 47-year-old Indonesian who was found positive on August 11. So far, 178 infected individuals have been linked to the cluster. – The Vibes, August 17, 2021
