BY: IDAYU RAHIM

Never in the history of this country are conservation efforts of all kinds virtually leading us nowhere as Malaysians find forests disappearing and flora and fauna including a large number of species of insects becoming extinct.

This is actually tragic news for a country that has natural resources in abundance but due to greed, corruption and mismanagement, it is all going to waste as Malaysians are unaware and in the dark of how bad the situation is now.

But thanks to a number of heroic organizations, especially NGOs, who are monitoring and conducting surveillance operations to keep the authorities and Malaysians in the know there may be an opportunity to turn things around.

But it’s a daunting, unenviable task for these organizations who are strapped for cash and many other resources to fight the forces of darkness who are destroying this country and therefore these vigilante groups need to be strengthened.

The Malaysian government needs to up the ante and muster the political will to take charge and control of the situation and not let it get from bad to worse or become a free for all causing chaos and confusion in this country.

There needs to be strict and good governance to ensure conservation efforts are not only done by do-gooders but also the authorities and the enforcement of laws to ensure poachers, illegal loggers and wildlife traffickers are brought to book.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher