This letter was heavily edited by the newspaper. The actual letter submitted is included below.Notably the last paragraph of the original letter has been omitted.
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Thursday February 11, 2010 The Star, Malaysia
Is Malaysia a haven for wildlife – or hell?
The January edition of the prestigious National Geographic highlighted the enormous scale of wildlife trafficking, both legal and blatantly illegal, perpetuated in and transited through Malaysia.
The Malaysian Government clearly needs to decide if it wishes to retain its popular and lucrative wildlife dependant eco-tourism industry employing many thousands, or permit a relatively few unscrupulous wildlife traders and officials to tarnish the country’s image irrevocably.
Malaysia has undeniably become the entry and exit point for millions of animals, some legally, many not. The Government needs quickly to decide if it wants Malaysia to be seen as a haven for wildlife – or hell. It cannot be both.
SEAN WHYTE,
Chief Executive, Nature Alert,
England.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/2/11/focus/5652369&sec=focus
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LETTER SUBMITTED
A Blind Eye
Anyone reading the January edition of the prestigious National Geographic
could not fail to be deeply saddened and worried by the enormous scale of
wildlife trafficking, both legal and blatantly illegal, perpetuated in and
transited thorough Malaysia.
The Malaysian government clearly needs to decide if it wishes to
retain its popular and lucrative wildlife dependant eco-tourism industry employing
many thousands, or permit a relative few unscrupulous wildlife traders and officials to tarnish the country's image irrevocably.
Malaysia has undeniably become the entry and exit point for millions of animals, some legally, many not, but all on their way to a certain and often tortuous death. The government needs quickly to decide if it wants Malaysia to be seen as a haven for wildlife - or hell. It cannot be both.
National Geographic readers number 40 million worldwide, many
of whom will now have seen Malaysia labelled, correctly as it happens, as
a safe, even protected haven, for the most prolific of wildlife traders in the world.
This begs the question, just how can this man operate with impunity?
Sean Whyte
Chief Executive
Nature Alert
England
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