SHAH ALAM - Perak Police have asked the lorry driver suspected of fatally hitting a Malayan tiger at Kilometre 67.1 of the East-West Highway (JRTB) near Gerik last Saturday to come forward to assist in the investigation.
In an incident around 5.30am on Saturday, a tiger was fatally struck by a lorry at Kilometre 67.1 of the East-West Highway near Gerik, with part of its body left crushed.
Perak acting police chief Deputy Commissioner Zulkafli Sariaat said that the case was initially reported by the Wildlife Protection and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), which has since been working closely with the police to trace the driver and gather further details on the incident.
"The case is actually being investigated by Perhilitan and we are cooperating to trace the suspect.
"However, so far we have been unable to identify those involved as the driver has not filed a police report," he said during a press conference at the Perak Police Headquarters on Monday.
According to Zulkafli, the police are committed to assisting Perhilitan in this investigation, especially in tracking down suspects involved in removing body parts from the endangered animal.
Reports from Natural Resources and Environment Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad revealed that following the accident, irresponsible individuals had stolen four fangs, claws, the tail’s skin and parts of the tiger’s head.
Authorities are urging anyone in possession of any tiger parts to surrender them to Perhilitan immediately to avoid prosecution under the Wildlife Conservation Act (Act A1646). Penalties for unauthorised possession include fines of up to RM1 million and up to 15 years in prison.
The viral video of the incident showed the tiger lodged under the lorry, with its head and other body parts detached and scattered across the road.