Commentary by Mustafa K. Anuar

IT is no surprise that the Kelantan Forestry Department director was immediately mauled by critics, environmentalists and animal lovers alike, after he claimed that tigers would thrive better in deforested areas.

Abdul Khalim Abu Samah extolled the purported virtue of logging as the deforested area would supposedly enable new vegetation to grow and attract animal species that could, in turn, serve as fodder for the tigers. In short, a fertile ground for tigers.

Yet, he seemed to have forgotten that not only would the big cats be displaced by the deforestation, so would other wildlife whose natural habitat has been cleared.

Where would these animals go while waiting for the new vegetation to emerge, if we were to follow through Khalim’s warped logic? Surely, he would not keep some of them in his own backyard as pets.

Would it, then, require the Kelantan state government to allocate a piece of land under Temporary Occupation Licence in order to “house” the displaced animals, assuming that the “relief centre” is suitable for them?

Additionally, logging adversely affects the Orang Asli community in the vicinity as they depend on the forest as their source of food. Their bond with nature as a way of life is also disrupted by logging.

The logging activities, as shown by the Kelantan case, have also exposed the Orang Asli to the danger of tigers prowling for food after they were driven out of their natural habitat. There was a report of an Orang Asli being killed by a big cat recently.

Does Khalim prefer that the carnivorous animals whet their appetite in this gruesome manner? If the likes of Khalim are not careful, humans may well be an endangered species.

In a political climate where certain animals find themselves to be made objects of levity, we hope that Khalim was not joking about deforestation being conducive to increasing the tiger population.

Surely, dwindling tiger populations and deforestation are not meant to tickle funny bones of anyone, least of all dense politicians.

While the matter of wildlife comes under the purview of the National Parks and Wildlife Department, this episode shows that it is incumbent upon civil servants, particularly the head of a forestry department, to widen their intellectual horizon because many things in life are interrelated.

Khalim should be aware that relentless and indiscriminate logging contributes to an increase in our carbon footprint, which helps to bring about climate change along with its devastating consequences. A knowledge and appreciation of environmental protection is essential.

Perhaps Environment and Water Minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, who had attended and delivered a speech at the recent 2021 United Nations Climate Change (COP26) summit in Glasgow, may want to spare some time to counsel fellow Kelantanese about the dangerous link between deforestation and climate change.

Had Khalim been informed of the wisdom of environmental protection, he might have been able to challenge the overriding assumption that logging, which is the primary source of revenue for the Kelantan state government, is acceptable in the long run.

Equally important, he would have been able to quell the sneer from his critics that he is intellectually challenged.

By now, Khalim should be able to tell you that it is not easy to dismount once you ride a tiger. – January 25, 2022.