SFC to take over as controller of wildlife from Forest Department – Len Talif

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Datu Len Talif Salleh

KUCHING: The Sarawak Forestry Corporation will take over the responsibility of controller of wildlife from the Sarawak Forest Department, said Assistant Minister of Urban Development and Resources Datu Len Talif Salleh

“We are in the process of splitting Forest Development (and Forestry Corporation). When we split these out, SFC is (will be) the controller of wildlife,” he said during a press conference at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching here today.

Len Talif said the roles and functions of SFC and SFD will be ‘very clear and focused’ once the exercise is completed, which he expected it to be quite soon.

Once the process is completed, he said SFC will be looking after the national parks (NPs) and wildlife while SFD focusing on operations and others.

Presently, SFD is responsible for issuing the permit for individuals to keep protected wildlife. Such permit is required for renewal on an annual basis.

On the other hand, SFC is in-charge of the enforcement which includes site visits and checks for compliance.

SFC is the authority to take action against permit holders who infringe the Sarawak Wild Life Protection Ordinance, 1998 whereby killing, keeping, selling, buying the animal or its derivatives are prohibited by the law.

Those found guilty of infringing the said Ordinance can be jailed for one year and fined RM10,000.