Perak intends to apply the elephant alarm fence system used in the state of Johor to resolve the issue of disturbances by wild animals in the state.
However, according to the Executive Councillor for Health, Science, Environment and Green Technology, Mohd Akmal Kamaruddin, his side is also considering using similar technology from Thailand.
“Regarding the alarm system that uses technology from Indonesia, I have included this matter in the Exco meeting and the results of the visit to Johor last Monday.
“Also on the visit were Johor State Tourism, Environment, Heritage and Culture Committee Chairman, Raven Kumar Krishnasamy, Perak State Government Deputy Secretary (Development) Halizah Sipun as well as PERHILITAN and JAKOA State Perak and Johor Director.
“We went to Punan Orang Asli Village which is the only one in Malaysia that uses the technology and I asked some of the Orang Asli people there, who say that they are happy with the technology, which has been in use for almost six months.
“I think it is quite appropriate that this technology be brought to Perak, but I was informed by a non-governmental organization (NGO) that there is another technology that is used in Thailand.
“My intention is to bring that technology here. The understanding is that when the elephant has trespassed another 1 kilometre in, the system will sound, and the elephant will be startled and turned back.
He said this at a press conference regarding the visit and survey of the use of the elephant alarm in Johor recently.
“The system has been in existence for almost six years and now it is getting more popular. The demand for the system is quite high from the people who need it,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mohd Akmal said, so far the state government is open to using both technologies.
He also said that his party will visit and survey Thailand in the near future, to see the technology in detail.
“The result of discussions with the Orang Asli Development Department (JAKOA) is the possibility to bring some Orang Asli to Johor, where they can learn from the village there on how to operate this technology.
“Because the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) only supplies the goods, the Orang Asli themselves will have to handle it,” he added.
Mohd Akmal said the estimated cost for the WCS technology was about RM400 for 1 acre, while the technology from Thailand was estimated at RM32,000 for 14 Kilometres.
by Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
