KUALA TERENGGANU – It may have been banned since two months ago but ardent lovers of turtle eggs are finding creative ways to satisfy their exotic cravings.
And while the iconic delicacy of Terengganu was no longer being sold openly, talk was rife that the eggs were being sourced through illicit means.
In fact, it was believed that the eggs were even poached from the designated turtle nesting sanctuary, Redang Island.
In some cases, a local who requested anonymity claimed the poachers were enforcement officers who were tasked to safeguard the sanctuary.
"There was a time when my family would get a bag of 30 turtle eggs from them.
"They were not selling it but were giving it away for free instead, for friends and families.
"Truthfully, this is rather expected as most people in Terengganu have been eating turtle eggs for decades. So, I believe the demand is still there despite the ban,” she said.
Terengganu was the last state in the country to ban the sale of turtle eggs due to conservation issues.
When the matter was brought up to Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, he was taken aback that the smuggling of turtle eggs persisted.
"It is still happening? This is completely illegal. We have enacted a law to ban it,” Samsuri told Sinar Daily after a meeting with Karangraf’s Rasuah Busters team.
He also implored the people of Terengganu to be responsible and lodge reports to the authorities if they have any information regarding the poaching and selling of turtle eggs.
"We will take further action if we receive such reports,” he remarked.
In a report by the Fisheries Research Institute last year, about 750,000 turtle eggs were picked by collectors in Terengganu with 90,000 of it being sold in markets at Rantau Abang, Dungun.