TAWAU: The authorities, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), have been asked to investigate whether there are cases of illegal logging at Gunung Rara Forest Reserve here, following the deaths of 14 Pygmy Elephants in the area early last year.
Kalabakan member of parliament Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh said a thorough investigation should be conducted to identify if their habitats had been affected by illegal logging and the cause of death of the elephants.
“We want to know whether the forest reserve is still perfect or already intruded by illegal loggers. If that has happened, we want those responsible brought to justice immediately,” he said yesterday.
Ghapur added that the same matter was voiced in the Dewan Rakyat recently.
The elected representative also asked the authorities to complete the investigation on the death of the elephants because the incident had received attention from various quarters, and internationally.
In January 2013, 14 Borneo Pygmy elephants, aged between four and 20 years, were found dead at Gunung Rara Forest Reserve, about 139 kilometers from Tawau .
All the elephants that were found dead were believed from a herd of elephant family and preliminary investigations believe that they died due to poisoning.