PUTRAJAYA, June 23 — The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) will provide full cooperation to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in its investigation into the transfer of three Asian elephants, known as Dara, Amoi and Kelat (DAK), from Taiping Zoo to Tennoji Zoo in Osaka, Japan.
Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said the ministry has taken note of the ongoing investigation and reaffirmed its commitment to the principles of transparency, accountability and the rule of law in all aspects of wildlife management.
“NRES is prepared to provide full and comprehensive cooperation to the authorities throughout the course of this investigation to ensure that the process is carried out thoroughly and transparently,” he said in a statement today.
Arthur said the ministry would neither compromise nor shield any party if misconduct, irregularities or procedural breaches related to the transfer are proven.
He added that such a stance is essential to safeguard the integrity of institutions and preserve the country’s reputation at the international level.
Yesterday, the MACC confirmed that it had opened an investigation into the transfer of DAK following allegations of leakages and irregularities in the process.
On June 18, wildlife rights group Hidup (Hak Asasi Hidupan Liar Malaysia) called on the MACC to investigate the transfer of the three elephants.
The organisation also alleged that certain payments related to the transfer were not channelled to the government and linked several individuals to transactions estimated to be worth RM53 million.
