PUTRAJAYA – The Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry will obtain a full report on the flash flood that hit Zoo Negara on October 18 to prevent a recurrence, said its minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
“We will get detailed information to determine the cause of the incident and what the best way is to overcome the problem,” he told a press conference after launching the National Biodiversity Conference and the National Biodiversity Policy 2022-2030 here today.
The media reported that 50 visitors were rescued by Zoo Negara staff using a truck and tractor after being stranded at the zoo that was hit by the flash flood at 5pm.
Zoo Negara deputy president Rosly@Rahmat Ahmad Lana was quoted as saying that the incident caused the zoo to suffer more than RM300,000 in losses.
In another development, Nik Nazmi said the government would look at the feasibility of the proposed transboundary haze act as well as other matters, as there were several limitations, including those regarding prosecution.
“Based on the same law that is enforced in Singapore (the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act 2014), the republic confirmed that some companies have been brought in for investigation, but it is quite challenging to prosecute the responsible parties.
“That’s why we believe that we must look into it thoroughly. We want it (the proposed law) to be meaningful and able to protect Malaysians,” he said.
On October 12, Nik Nazmi said the government would continue to examine the need to introduce a bill on transboundary haze.
In May, the minister was reported as saying that the government needed to look at the feasibility of a transboundary haze act by considering diplomatic ties with foreign countries and environmental pollution preventive measures. – October 24, 2023