The Sabah government appreciates the initiative of the Royal Malaysian Police, through the General Operation Force’s (GOF) ‘Tiger Platoon’, in helping to eradicate crimes involving wildlife in the state which have become increasingly rampant.

Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal said the cooperation from the police was very important to ensure enforcement could be strengthened to simultaneously curb the crimes against wildlife more effectively.

He said the agency entrusted in monitoring wildlife in Sabah was facing manpower constraints, especially in the aspect of enforcement and aid from other quarters was much needed so that efficient monitoring could be implemented.

‘’We (state government) appreciate very much the help given by the police to help look after the safety of elephants and other wildlife in Sabah and subsequently ensuring there is enforcement.

‘’We are short of manpower in terms of enforcement, as such, with the aid of the Tiger Platoon, which has skills and ability, can help tackle crimes against wildlife in Sabah,’’ Shafie told a media conference after launching the 2021-2030 Sabah Agriculture Development Plan in Kota Kinabalu yesterday.

On Monday, Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador said the 'Tiger Platoon' unit of the Sabah GOF was given the duty as the RMP frontline to help the authorities protect the wildlife and flora in the state.

The special operations squad would be mobilised to conduct patrols, detections and raids with enforcement personnel, including from the Sabah Wildlife Department and Forestry Department, against irresponsible individuals.

Prior to this, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Christina Liew revealed that currently, Sabah only had 60 wildlife rangers who were stationed at 14 of the Sabah Wildlife Department offices statewide.

On Sunday, one more elephant carcass was found in Sungai Kinabatangan, Kinabatangan, and it was the third find in recent times after an elephant carcass was found in Sungai Udin, Dumpas, Kalabakan, near Tawau on Sept 25 and another at an oil palm plantation in Beluran, Sandakan on Oct 19.

- Bernama