(MY) letter to editor

[Guest guest]

Friday April 14, 2006 _ The Star

 

Whither star treatment for wildlife?

 

POPULAR Bollywood actor Salman Khan was sentenced just days ago by an

Indian court to five years' jail for " poaching " . He had killed a

gazelle and two black bucks, which are on the endangered species list.

 

Kudos to India for upholding laws which protect animals. The country

is indeed getting closer to the ideals that Mahatma Ghandi himself had

propagated: " The greatness of a nation is seen in the way it treats

its animals. "

 

I disagree with those who sympathise with Salman and cry foul that

this blue-eyed boy of the Indian movie industry is being made a

scapegoat because Indian courts want to prove that no one is above the

law.

 

If anything, Salman's jail term lends credibility to all the other

court verdicts in support of animal welfare and shows a deep stirring

within humanity to remain true to our role as stewards of this earth.

 

The lessons and morals we leave our children will, in the end, be the

only legacy worth leaving behind. Hence, Salman's jailing is truly a

victory for animal rights activists who have sweated blood and shed

buckets of tears over senseless killings.

 

Worse, too often, our animal abuse reports to the authorities fall on

deaf ears. It is very sad indeed that this awakening in India is still

not happening in Malaysia, and the Department of Veterinary Services

continues to drag its feet in responding to animal abuse.

 

When animal shelters continue to get three calls a day reporting

animal abuse, it is unconscionable to learn that you can count with

two hands, the number of abuse cases the department has filed in court

against those who abuse animals.

 

So is it any wonder that Malaysian courts merely mete out token fines?

And to add insult to injury, they even return the abused animals to

their respective abusers.

 

In India the Rajasthan Forest and Environment Minister Laxminarain

Dave was delighted with the court verdict in the Salman case, saying

it strengthens the state government's efforts to protect wildlife and

check poaching.

 

I wish there was one politician in Malaysia, a civil servant from the

department or the Department of Wildlife and National Parks who is

just as enthusiastic as this Indian Minister in prosecuting those who

break laws that protect animals and the environment.

 

This verdict on Salman is a victory for animal rights activists all

over the world. Ironically, it comes also at a time when international

NGOs are calling for sanctions against Malaysia for failing to

adequately protect the orang utan, " Saving Sarawak's orang utan " (The

Star, April 11).

 

The orang utan is unique to the Malay Archipelago. What a pity!

 

Does it now take the foresight of outsiders to force Malaysians to

value our own wildlife?