SABAH will seek the help of Indonesian authorities to determine the origin of a 2.7kg tusk smuggled into the republic, Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun said.

Masidi said DNA tests have to be carried out to establish if the tusk had come from Sabah and dismissed claims that it originated from Sabah as mere hearsay.

“We are indeed concerned by the claim… but Sabah Customs Department made it clear that it would be quite apparent if it passed through the Tawau checkpoint,” he said.

Sabah Customs director Janathan Kandok yesterday dismissed claims that the tusk passed immigration checks after Indonesian police said a plantation worker had bought the tusk from a Malaysian.

A 50-year-old plantation worker from East Nusa Tenggara was arrested in Nunukan, Indonesia for possessing the tusk, and told police he bought the tusk for RM1,500.

Meanwhile, Masidi said using tusks as marriage offerings was common practice in Timor, Indonesia, and some had come to Sabah to work and save enough money to buy them.

“I’m not sure how the Timorese were able to get their hands on the tusk, but this is part of their culture,” he said.

Masidi also condemned Sabah tour guides who brought tourists to enjoy “exotic food.”

He said they are doing a great disservice to Sabah and they are betraying the future generations of Sabahans by encouraging the slaughter of protected animals.

Masidi said this following allegations of an unnamed tour guide offering exotic dishes to Sabah tourists. – August 4, 2017.