Poverty, which drives the less fortunate to turn to illegal hunting should be taken into consideration in policymaking, especially as COVID-19 has resulted in many losing jobs, said Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Dayang Khairunnisa binti Awang Haji Ash’ari during a wildlife webinar organised by the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Secretariat and the Freeland Organisation recently.

The LegCo member participated as a representative of Brunei and was also joined by Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Jaya Dato Paduka Haji Judin bin Haji Asar, Secretary to Cabinet Ministers’ Council and Clerk to the LegCo.

The webinar session focussed on the main cause of the COVID-19 pandemic which was from animal infections.

In line with the theme of this webinar session, ‘One Health Approach’, the webinar focusses on the legal framework in poaching against wildlife.

AIPA as a legislator has a responsibility to support government legislation and policies related to the wildlife trade and to further improve regulations or acts in monitoring the spread of epidemics and viruses from wildlife.

This webinar session hoped that the ASEAN Cooperation Action Plan on CITES and Wildlife Enforcement 2021-2025 can be fully implemented to support wildlife in preventing wildlife trade, zoonotic diseases and supporting best practices.

(News Source: Borneo Bulletin)