Call to probe turtle eggs served at CNY reunion dinner

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Wildlife Department should carry out a thorough investigation into the alleged consumption of turtle eggs at a Chinese New Year reunion dinner as highlighted on social media last week.

Former state minister for environment, Datuk Christina Liew, said the department’s enforcement unit should probe this apparent breach of the law committed by a family linked to a former assemblyman.

“The department must, by all means, trace how the turtle eggs found their way into the family home and ended up on the dining table,” she said, adding that the investigation would deter recurrence of such incidences.

“The department’s investigation must lead to prosecution and conviction of the alleged offender. No one is above the law.

“I am utterly disappointed that some citizens have absolutely no respect for the law against the possession and consumption of turtle eggs in Sabah.

“To put a stop to this illegal activity, we must beef up the law with stricter enforcement and penalties as the order of the day,” Liew said in a statement yesterday.

Following the social media expose on the dinner menu, Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga said the department was taking it upon itself to investigate the matter although no one came forward to lodge a report.

A member of the immediate family of a former assemblyman had posted on Facebook pictures of the reunion dinner, where turtle eggs were spotted on the table.

However, the post was quickly removed after netizens began commenting on it, though various groups managed to screenshot the post before it disappeared.

“Turtles (of all species) are a totally protected under Sabah’s Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997,” Liew said, adding that it was an offence to possess these animals or their products (shell, meat and eggs).

“Offenders can be fined RM50,000 or jailed five years, or both, upon conviction,” said the Tawau MP and Api Api assemblyman.