The mystery over Malaysia’s stash of illicit blood ivory continues and will not go away until the government comes clean and allows an independent audit to confirm whether or not some ivory has been misappropriated.

Making matters worse:

• No one has been so much as arrested let alone prosecuted for the ivory which represents over 1,000 slaughtered elephants. What message does this send to poachers and African nations whose elephants are being wiped out? What does the absence of arrests tell the world about Malaysia’s government and its law enforcement agencies?
• There has never been an explanation as to why the ivory has not been either returned to Africa or, better still - destroyed.
• The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) appear disinterested in this serious issue in much the same way they appear to turn a blind eye towards anything to do with wildlife crime.

Perhilitan and its hapless minister could not be more wrong if they think the questions will go away if they say nothing. Quite the opposite, in fact. Silence is no excuse and only implies guilt.

It would seem Perhilitan have learnt nothing from the past - which is where its senior management appear to live.

Meanwhile animals continue to be traded illegally and zoo animals endlessly suffer either because of Perhilitan/Ntural Resources and Environment Ministry complacency or complicity. Which is it?

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SEAN WHYTE is CEO, Nature Alert.