Cover image via Danau Girang Field CentreOn Wednesday, 4 November, a photo showing Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob having dinner at a seafood restaurant in Sandakan together with Beluran UMNO Chief James Ratib went viral on Facebook
Image via Danau Girang Field Centre
Another showed what appears to be a plate full of turtle eggs there
Image via Danau Girang Field Centre
A perfectly normal dinner, you would think. Except for one thing!
Turtles are a protected species under Schedule I of the Sabah Wildlife Enactment 1997.
It is unlawful to possess an animal or product of a species listed in Part I of Schedule 1 and the offender could face a fine of up to RM50,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both. And it includes harvesting, selling or consuming turtle eggs in the state.
Therefore it's not surprising that the conservationists are outraged
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun has said an investigation was initiated after the photographs surfaced
Sabah Wildlife Department will be questioning the restaurant owner
Meanwhile, when The Star contacted, Beluran UMNO Chief James denied that turtle eggs were served during the dinner. On what type of eggs are seen in the photos, James said, "I don't know."
Image via sabahkinimirror
And what has Ismail Sabri to say in his defence?
Caught under a conservationist fire, the Agriculture and Agri-based Industries Minister said he was not sure what eggs were served as he had only eaten fish at the dinner, adding that he abstained from eating turtle eggs served at a recent dinner because it is 'high in cholesterol'.
"I abstain from eating turtle eggs because it is high in cholesterol. **It has been a long time since I've eaten turtle eggs**," he is quoted by The Star as saying.
On the other hand, Masidi Manjun, Sabah Tourism Minister, has come out to defend Ismail Sabri, saying that instead of faulting the Federal Minister, his hosts should take the blame
To his credit, Masidi said he does not take for granted the conservation efforts by the state and also does not view the incident lightly, although it involved some known public servants
Image via dustystrail.com
However, regardless of whether Ismail Sabri ate turtle eggs or not, the question shouldn't be about that. A bigger issue is at play here!
The issue is that the people sitting on that dinner table are not ordinary people who may or may not know the laws prohibiting the consumption of turtle eggs in the state.
The fact is that Ismail Sabri not only sat through the dinner that included turtle eggs for the meal, an endangered species; as a Federal Minister he did nothing to stop the illegal act, even if he did not eat them, as he claims.
**So whether or not he ate the turtle eggs, it was still his responsibility to stop!**
