For three days in early August, Malaysia’s courtrooms fell unusually quiet. Thirty-four judges and prosecutors had left their benches and case files behind, travelling to the forests of Perak for an experience that would fundamentally change how they view wildlife crime.

The Wildlife Conservation Program, bringing together judges and prosecutors from across Peninsular Malaysia, was held from August 1 to 3, 2025, at Felda Residence Hot Springs in Sungkai, Perak, and was more than just a training exercise.

It was the moment when Malaysia’s legal system and its wildlife protectors finally bridged a gap that has long hindered effective wildlife justice.

Why This Programme Mattered

For years, a disconnect has plagued the prosecution of wildlife crime in Malaysia. Enforcement officers from PERHILITAN (the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Peninsular Malaysia) risk their lives in forests tracking poachers, destroying snares, and rescuing trafficked animals.

They build cases meticulously and bring them to court, hoping for sentences that reflect the severity of these crimes. But outcomes have been inconsistent.

Not because judges lack concern for wildlife, but because they operate in a different world. How can a judge in an air-conditioned courtroom fully understand the danger of an anti-poaching operation? How can sentencing guidelines be applied when none exist? How can prosecutors with a biology background confidently face experienced defence laywers without adequate legal resources?

These questions drove PERHILITAN, through its Enforcement Division, Legal Unit, PERHILITAN Perak, and the Biodiversity Institute, to organise this unprecedented program in partnership with Justice for Wildlife Malaysia (JWM).

Justice Begins in the Wild

In August 2025, 34 judges, prosecutors, and wildlife officers gathered in Sungkai, Perak, for a program by PERHILITAN that brought the realities of conservation to those who uphold the law.

At the Sungkai Wildlife Conservation Centre, participants witnessed breeding efforts for pangolins, seladang, sambar deer, and pheasants, species fighting for survival. For judges used to sterile courtrooms, it was a revelation that justice often begins in mud, heat, and danger.

The SPARTA demonstration effectively conveyed the message. PERHILITAN’s elite enforcement unit showcased how they destroy snares, raid poacher camps, and face armed criminals deep in Malaysia’s forests. It was a stark reminder of the risks behind every prosecution and the courage it takes to protect wildlife.

At the National Wildlife Rescue Centre, participants met the victims of wildlife crime, confiscated birds, injured reptiles, and traumatised primates, each a story of cruelty and survival.

That evening, a gala dinner featuring a traditional Semai performance honoured the Orang Asli’s role as community rangers, whose ancestral knowledge strengthens conservation efforts. By the programme’s end, one truth resonated deeply: protecting wildlife is not only about laws and sentences. It is about humanity’s shared duty to defend life in the wild.

The Dialogue That Changed Everything

The final day of the Wildlife Justice Programme not only educated but also inspired. What began as a routine on wildlife laws soon evolved into a conservation that peeled back the layers of Malaysia’s fight against wildlife crime, exposing its challenges and charting a path toward real change.

After an overview of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716) and the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008 (Act 686), the stage was set for a dialogue that would refine how justice for wildlife is pursued.

Moderated by the Director of Justice for Wildlife Malaysia (JWM), the panel featured voices from every corner of the system. High Court Judge Datuk Mohamad Abazafree Bin Mohd Abbas, PERHILITAN’s Deputy Director General Dato’ Fakhrul Hatta bin Musa, En. Noor Alif Wira Bin Osman (Enforcement Director), Deputy Public Prosecutor Tn. Faizal @ Amrin Bin Noor Hadi, and Legal Advisor, Pn. Fatin Hanum Binti Abdul Hadi.

It wasn’t a polite roundtable, it was a reality check.

The Challenges Uncovered

En. Noor Alif revealed that just 800 enforcement officers are responsible for protecting the entire Peninsular Malaysia. Backed by 2,500 community rangers, they conduct operations in collaboration with partners such as PDRM, Panthera, and WWF; however, the scale of the challenge is immense. Despite that, more than 70 arrests were made by mid-2025, and snare numbers are finally dropping.

Pn. Fatin Hanum shared a lesser-known truth: PERHILITAN’s 22 Prosecuting Officers and three Deputy Public Prosecutors come from science backgrounds, not law. They can identify species instantly and explain their ecological impacts, but often face veteran defence lawyers without the same legal training or access to standard resources that others have. “They learn by experience,” she said, “but their passion for wildlife is unmatched.”

Tn. Faizal from the Attorney General’s Chambers addressed the elephant in the courtroom, sentencing inconsistency. Two similar wildlife cases had drastically different outcomes: one offender received a one-year prison sentence, while another received a four-year prison sentence. Without formal sentencing guidelines, judges must navigate cases on a case-by-case basis, resulting in unpredictable outcomes.

Many Malaysians still believe that keeping wildlife as pets is harmless if they are “well cared for.” En. Noor Alif called it out bluntly: “Wildlife is a national asset. Their natural state is wild and free.” Keeping them fuels trafficking, spreads disease, and dismantles ecosystems piece by piece.

Wisdom from the Bench

Then came the turning point.

Justice Datuk Mohamad Abazafree spoke, and the room shifted.

“Justice starts from evidence collection,” he said. “If evidence is flawed, justice fails before it reaches the court.”

He urged prosecutors to build stronger Fakta Kes (Case Facts): vivid, evidence-based stories that show not just what happened, but why it matters. “You must dramatise the facts, not exaggerate them,” he explained. “Help the court see the cruelty, the loss, and the ecological damage.”

He also broke down barriers between the prosecution and defence: “The courtroom isn’t a battlefield. Talk to each other. The goal is truth, not victory.”

Judges across Malaysia echoed his message with practical reforms, including creating a sentencing compendium, training defence lawyers and witnesses, and incorporating compensation provisions into wildlife laws. As High Court Judge Roslan Mat Nor put it, “Every agency has a role. When one fails, justice weakens.”

NGOs were recognised as key partners in research, training, and guideline development. JWM, Panthera, and other organisations were encouraged to assist in building data resources and regional prosecution manuals, while awareness programmes were recommended to tackle public misconceptions.

From Talk to Transformation

By the end of the programme, the numbers spoke for themselves:

• 100% of participants agreed it improved understanding and collaboration.
• 94% wanted it held annually.
• 91% said they now viewed wildlife conservation as more important than before.

Recommendations were clear: expand to zonal training programs, develop wildlife sentencing guidelines, and empower prosecutors with standardised tools and reference materials.

The Takeaway

That day, the lines between courtroom, jungle, and sanctuary blurred. Judges left understanding that every snare, every seized animal, every case file represents more than a crime; it represents survival.

This is how justice systems evolve.

Not through legislation alone, but through understanding. Not through mandates alone, but through collaboration. Not through punishment alone, but through shared commitment to something larger than any individual role.

As one participant wrote, “This programme can become the catalyst for a more cohesive and powerful prosecution of wildlife crime.”

That’s exactly what’s happening.

One released bird at a time. One conversation at a time. One well-constructed Case Facts document at a time. One appropriate sentence at a time.

From courtrooms to conservation centres. From law books to leopard cases. From judgments to jungles.

This is what building justice looks like.
Because Justice for Wildlife is Justice for Malaysia.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The “Program Pemuliharaan Hidupan Liar Bersama Badan Kehakiman Semenanjung Malaysia” ran August 01-03, 2025, organised by the Department of  Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) in collaboration with Justice for Wildlife Malaysia.

 

Supported by