The Menteri Besar of Terengganu has issued a challenge by offering a RM10,000 reward to whoever catches the Araipaima Gigas (or dragonfish) in Tasik Kenyir, so as to reduce its population. This underscores the gravity of the issue of invasion of foreign species.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is highly concerned that alien fish species are being dumped into our waterways, threatening the lives of indigenous fish species.

Not only fish species, but the whole Malaysian native fauna is seriously endangered by exotic alien species - some imported as pets and later abandoned by the irresponsible few.

Factors like environmental pollution and destruction of natural habitats and ecosystems have made it easier for non-native species brought to Malaysia to establish and become invasive as many of them are "colonising" species that benefit from the radically-reduced competition that follows habitat degradation or destruction. Global climate change is another contributing factor in assisting the spread and establishment of invasive alien species.

The problem can snowball if the government does not take more active and effective measures to deal with the uncontrolled introduction of foreign species into the country.

Additionally, the pet boom is worsening the problem and facilitating the spread of alien species.

This problem is especially acute with non-native fish species such as luohans, peacock bass and cichilids as a huge number of them are imported and traded - only to be discarded into our waters when the novelty of owning them wears off.

Moreover, the scale of introduction of foreign species is quite likely to continue from its present level, due to the  expanding world trade and pet industry. The continued growth of the pet industry calls for the enforcement authorities'  timely action.

Also, it is supposed to be a wakeup call to the Fisheries Department, the Department of Veterinary Services and the Wildlife Department not to be complacent and that law enforcement authorities need to beef up legislation and the monitoring of all pet shops in the country.

Pretending that a problem does not exist will not make it go away. On the contrary, if a problem exists and nothing is done, it will further aggravate and harm local species and the entire biodiversity of our nation.

We believe that the right counter measures can be instituted to address this problem, such as a prohibition of the import of non-native animals for pet or ornamental keeping purposes; a prohibition of the sale of the animals in pet shops; a prohibition of the commercial breeding of non-native animals to be sold and tougher legislation against the illegal pet trade.

Customs, quarantines and other import/export practices, developed many years ago to guard against human and economic diseases and pests, are often inadequate to safeguard against foreign species that threaten indigenous species and biodiversity.

The Department of Fisheries and the Department of Veterinary Services must deal with this issue in a timely fashion and move away from the older, narrower premises primarily related to agriculture and human health. Indeed, it is an issue that needs to be tackled seriously.

S. M. Mohd Idris
President, Sahabat Alam Malaysia
Penang