Tightening laws on smuggling activities
By Rosli Abidin Yahya 

A delegation from Brunei Darussalam was amongst the 52 participants who attended the Convention of International Trade on Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) last week in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Other that participated came from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore.

A working paper was delivered by the Sabah Assistant Minister for Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Karim Bujang.

He said that the smuggling activities of endangered species of Sabah in flora and fauna are still under control due to tightening of laws.

"Smuggling activities are still rampant in several countries but luckily for Sabah, such activities had been considerably curbed. Our official records showed that there were no known cases of illegal trade involving endangered species here.

"We must thank our enforcement agencies for their hard work in saving the endangered species from being stolen and imported out of Sabah," he said.

CITES is an international body under the supervision of United Nations to look at exports of wild species as well as providing advice.

Datuk Karim said Sabah is rich in endangered flora and fauna such as the Sumatran Rhinos, Prosboscis Monkeys, Orang Utans and orchids.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin