KUALA LUMPUR: Over 100 animal lovers from 32 groups braved the morning downpour to gather at the gates of Parliament and demand justice and rights for strays.
At around 10.30am Tuesday (Nov 12), the group hoisted placards and banners calling for immediate legal reforms in the handling of stray animals.
ALSO READ: Kopi’s killing triggers argumentative exchange
This comes after a dog, lovingly named Kopi, was allegedly shot dead by a local council representative in Terengganu last month.
Organised by the Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF) and led by Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia (SAFM), the group chanted “justice for Kopi” and “justice for all animals” outside the gates as about 40 police officers were present for traffic and crowd control.
The group was later met by a delegation of MPs led by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran (PH-Ipoh Barat) and former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (BN-Bera) who received the memorandum.
ALSO READ: Kopi’s death should not be in vain
GHRF president S. Sashi Kumar told reporters the memorandum was to seek amendments to the Animal Welfare Act 2015 and advocate for humane and sustainable practices in stray animal management.
“We no longer want the protection of strays to be under DVS anymore. It has failed us,” Sashi said.
The memorandum lists several key demands which include the setting up of a new independent board to monitor, enforce and support humane practices in animal welfare.
The proposed animal welfare board would oversee local authorities’ compliance with humane practices and address cases of cruelty.
ALSO READ: Halt shooting and killing of stray dogs, says coalition of animal groups
Other demands include reforms to the Act prohibiting cruel treatment of strays and inhumane capture methods, mandating a national trap-neuter-release programme, and strict regulation of animal breeders.
The group also demanded that local animal pounds be transformed into no-kill facilities so that rehabilitation and adoption become the norm.
The group dispersed peacefully at around 12.30pm after handing over the memorandum.
