Animal welfare activists are crying foul over the non-activation of the Animal Welfare Bill 2015 despite it being passed in Parliament nearly two years ago.
Frustrations have boiled over as there has been an increase in cases of animal abuse that may have been prevented if harsh penalties in the new bill are executed.
It was finally revealed that the provisions under the bill will only be implemented six months from now, after the New Sunday Times probed into the issue.
The New Sunday Times was told that, even though regulations under the bill have been finalised by the Veterinary Services Department (VSD), the new laws are awaiting the green light from the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry.
VSD director-general Datuk Dr Kamarudin Md Isa says the Animal Welfare Bill 2015 is expected to be gazetted by the middle of this year, and the department has ironed out technical issues.
“The department is waiting for the final approval from the ministry for clauses in the bill to be put into action.”
Kamarudin says in the meantime, the department is safeguarding the welfare of animals through the Animals Act 1953.
“VSD is using the Animals Act to take action against animal abusers.
“The law is effective even though, undoubtedly, the new act will be a bigger deterrent as it entails harsher punishments.”
In allying fears that the new act is taking too long to be enforced, Kamarudin cited a recent court case on how the old law is relevant in protecting animals.
Recently, a man was fined for abandoning his horse at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Resort in Kuala Lumpur.
In that case, the 43-year-old company chief executive officer was fined RM5,000 by the Kuala Lumpur magistrate’s court on Jan 19 for neglecting his 23-year-old Dutch Warmblood, which caused it to suffer a leg injury.
However, as a result of the delay in enforcement, Selangor Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) patron Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye says there is an increase in pet dumping and abandonment.
He says 60 to 70 pets, comprising cats and dogs, are abandoned at the Selangor SPCA shelter every month.
“The most recent case of pet dumping was on Jan 7, where 11 puppies were found outside SPCA Selangor. There was also another pet abandoned the next day.
“When pets are abandoned by their owners, they will struggle to survive on the streets. This is considered an act of cruelty.”
Lee says more needs to be done to improve the condition of dog pounds and pet boarding centres.
“Pets that are caught by dog catchers are kept in deplorable and ill-equipped pounds. Often, these animals await their deaths as they are not claimed by their owners.
“How many of these pets come out of the pound alive?”
He says many animal welfare groups want the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry to expedite enforcement of the bill, which he describes as a landmark legislation that will put Malaysia on a par with developed countries.
“It is a legislation that not many developing countries have.”
Lee suggests that the ministry, which oversees the VSD, collaborate with the Education Ministry to conduct awareness programmes to inculcate love for animals in the younger generation.
He said the Animal Welfare Board should include representatives from government agencies and non-governmental organisations.
Another pressing issue that often leads to abuse of domestic animals is the management of strays, which falls under local authorities or councils.
The Animal Welfare Bill 2015, which received overwhelming support from lawmakers from both sides of the political divide, was passed on June 17, 2015.
It led to the setting up of an Animal Welfare Board that paved the way for more bite to be given to VSD personnel to nab animal abusers.
The bill carries a fine of between RM20,000 and RM100,000, and up to three years’ jail for those guilty of beating, mutilating, poisoning, confining or restricting the natural movement, and abandoning animals under their care.
This is unlike the Animals Act 1953, which carries a fine of up to RM200 or six months’ jail.
