WILDLIFE poachers and traffickers may not have it easy soon - if the relentless campaign by the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) and local environmental groups to amend the Wildlife Act 1972 is successful.

The act has received a lot of criticism especially from animal conservation groups for its rather mild punishment and penalties to deter wildlife offenders.

Yesterday, an Indonesian man was fined a mere RM2,000 by the Magistrate court for attempting to smuggle 10 murai batu birds (Common Shama) out of the country last Saturday. The bird can fetch at least RM3,000 in the open market.

Perhilitan law and enforcement division director Saharudin Anan said the department was hoping that the amendment to the act would pass. According to Saharudin, the amendment was expected to be tabled at the next Parliament sitting.

"It is disheartening to go after the offenders if they can simply walk away with a small fine," Saharudin told a Press conference yesterday at the Perhilitan headquarters in Cheras.

Saharudin said the new amendment would see an increase in fines to least 10 to 15 times more.

"For example, the minimum punishment at present is only RM1,000. After the amendment, the minimum fine will be RM10,000 and could go up to RM500,000. A mandatory 10-year jail term is also in the offing."

On May 30, Perhilitan enforcement officers and Gerik police stopped a vehicle that was on its way to the Thai border.

Eighty-four pieces of skull and bones belonging to a young adult Malayan tiger were recovered in a plastic bag that was hidden beneath the passenger seat.

Two men were held under remand for six days at the Gerik police headquarters and will be charged in court on June 24. The men face a maximum fine of RM15,000 and five years in jail.