Lasah is a Malaysian elephant who has been used and abused in different zoos and made to work in entertainment and tourism for over 30 years. Today this unfortunate elephant is on Langkawi Island, used for tourism purposes by the Langkawi Elephant Adventures [LEA]. In July the 36-year old Lasah was found brutally chained on all four legs after LEA had closed.

Since then over 400,000 people have signed two petitions started for Lasah. Almost 700 have written to the NRE Minister, Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and we ourselves have sent countless emails to the NRE.

Fast forward four months later and Lasah is still languishing in Langkawi. All calls by Friends of the Orangutans Malaysia (FOTO Malaysia), international NGOs and elephant experts from around the world asking for the government to retire Lasah to the Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary have fallen on deaf ears.

Compare the treatment of a majestic Malaysian animal with that of panda bears from China. The pandas in a zoo in the nation’s capital are even said to be given enrichment and health checks daily.

A fully air-conditioned complex was built to house the bears and we have been informed anyone caught throwing junk food at the bears is immediately asked to exit the complex. Millions of ringgit have been spent on them.

Doesn’t all the above indicate that the government has no concern whatsoever for Malaysian wildlife and will not lift a finger to alleviate the suffering of Lasah and other animals?

Apart from Lasah the elephant’s daily nightmare, countless animals in various zoos across the country are in pain and anguish as you read this. And they will continue to suffer as almost no one in Malaysia speaks up for them and the fear culture is holding back those with information from exposing cruelty to wildlife in Malaysia.

Isn’t it an embarrassment and national shame that almost half a million animal lovers (mostly from Malaysia and Western countries) are imploring the government to help save a Malaysian animal in Lasah from daily exploitation and abuse while pandas from China are given VVIP treatment daily?

We ask all Malaysians to join Foto Malaysia in our campaign to #FreeLasah. Click on this link to take action now – Free Lasah the elephant from daily abuse.

Upreshpal Singh is Director of Friends of the Orangutans (Malaysia).

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