889 cases of animal cruelty detected

SHAH ALAM - A total of 889 cases of animal cruelty and neglect have been detected based on complaints received by the Veterinary Services Department (DVS) from 2021 until now.

The Malaysia Animal Association president Arie Dwi Andika said some of the cases could be resolved with sufficient witnesses and evidences.

He stressed that harsher punishment should be imposed on offenders to deal with this issue that is becoming more and more common, including to increase the prison term for the Animal Welfare Act 2015 (Act 772) to five years and a minimum of three lashes.

"Now is not the time to place emphasis on awareness issue, on the contrary, the law needs to be improved

"In addition to imprisonment, it is time to include whipping of at least three to five lashes.

"The punishment is appropriate because they not only neglect the animals but also injure and kill ," he told Sinar.

Arie added that the government including the authorities need to improve on the the Local Government Act 1976 as it allegedly has loopholes.

He claimed that the Act favors the law enforcers where some of them misuse the law.

"There are loopholes in several sections of the Act that gives full authority to law enforcers to prohibit, prevent and prosecute communities which are devoted and treat these street animals well.

"These loophole must be modified and amended in line with the Animal Welfare Act 2015 (Act 772).

"If no changes are made, there will be endless feuds and disputes between animal lovers and law enforcers," he said.

He explained that due to these weaknesses, problems involving animal welfare could not be solved.

"As long as the Act is not improved, efforts to defend the animals' welfare will be difficult," he said.