PJ Moorthy
The Star Probe team had interviewed Anson Wong sometime back, and in that open interview Anson Wong ( who was handed a 71 Month Jail term and USD60,000 fine) had admitted that although he was involved in the smuggling of wildlife previously, he has turned the corner and now operates a legitimate business 'above board'.
Clearly, his reference of above board is different from those who used the term to signify their coming clean.
Anson Wong was arrested yesterday in Sepang International Airport for attempting to smuggle 90 snakes of various species.
What is the significance in Malaysia?
Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen had openly said that Malaysia was in need of stronger and clearer legislation to prevent the smuggling of wildlife.
In Malaysia, the chinese are fondly said to be connoisseurs of exotic meats, with a saying that 'The Chinese will eat anything with its back facing the sun'. There are several hotspots in Kuala Lumpur that serves up exotic dishes, and do the customers question the source of meat?
It is thanks to these demands that enable people like Anson Wong to thrive in the trafficking of illegal wildlife. The poaching of endagered wildlife in Malaysia must stop, and if there is a political will, there must be a way.
Anson Wong typically represents chinese businessmen in many aspects. They seem to be oblivious to the surroundings and have no qualms in making money out of anything. Where is their conscience?
Where is the conscience of doing things out of convenience and making profit from it?
DAP seems to know that already. They are after all in a partnership with PAS that shares only the will to stay in power, for their ideologies defer drastically, one for a secular nation and the other an ultra Islamic nation that even UMNO do not subscribe to.
One wonders, for how long will the chinese community bend over to see DAP go the distance. Are they all above board like Anson Wong?