KUALA LUMPUR: The recent killing of stray dog Kopi (pic) in Terengganu was again highlighted in Parliament after more than 100 animal lovers from 32 groups convened at the gates of the building to demand justice and rights for stray animals.
Braving the morning rain, the group arrived by 10.30am yesterday, hoisting placards and banners calling for immediate legal reforms in the handling of stray animals.
The news of Kopi’s death in September, which had sparked an outcry on social media, already led to a fierce exchange between MPs in the august House two weeks ago.
Last month, Besut District Council said the shooting of Kopi was carried out in accordance with the laws, adding that its team was prevented from retrieving the dog’s remains by certain individuals.
The council’s statement was issued in response to a Facebook post shared by Stray Animal Feeders of Malaysia (SAFM) on Oct 12.
During yesterday’s gathering, which was organised by Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF) and led by SAFM, the group chanted “justice for Kopi” and “justice for all animals” outside the gates with about 40 police officers present to manage nearby traffic and the crowd.
The group was later met by a delegation of MPs led by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) M. Kulasegaran and former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who received the memorandum from the members.
GHRF president S. Sashi Kumar told reporters that 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 the Department of Veterinary Services anymore. It has failed us tremendously,” Sashi said.
The memorandum lists a number of key demands to the government, which include the setting up of a new independent animal welfare board to monitor, enforce and support humane practices in animal welfare nationwide.
Other demands include reforms to the Act to prohibit cruel treatment of strays and inhumane capture methods, mandate a national trap-neuter-return programme, and strict regulation of animal breeders.
The group also demanded that local animal pounds be transformed into no-kill facilities so rehabilitation and adoptions become the norm.
They dispersed peacefully at around 12.30pm.
Later in the Dewan Rakyat, Kampar MP Chong Zhemin and Segamat MP R. Yuneswaran, both from Pakatan Harapan, raised the matter during Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming’s winding-up speech on the Supply Bill 2025.
“Can you give us a guarantee on this issue, whether we will revise local town council laws so that animals are not cruelly killed under the Madani government?” asked Yuneswaran.
Nga said investigations and disciplinary action will be taken against any local authority officers who do not abide by the Act.
He also urged individuals not to have pets if they are not responsible pet owners.
During his winding-up speech, Nga also said putting down strays is a last resort adopted by local councils.
Nga noted that the ministry presently uses methods such as capturing, claiming or handing over stray dogs or cats to NGOs for relocation.
“Euthanasia is only for animals that are diseased, frail, causing a nuisance, or posing a danger to the public,” he said.
