SHAH ALAM, Aug 9 — Weak enforcement of laws has been identified as the main reason why cases of animal abuse continue to occur.
Malaysia Cat Club president Khalid Rashid has urged the authorities to impose stricter punishments as a deterrent to society and to help reduce incidents of animal cruelty.
"The police need to be firm so that people are afraid to commit offences. For example, place signboards in flat or apartment areas with clear messages that animal abuse is a crime," he told Media Selangor today.
Khalid added that the mistreatment of animals also stems from a lack of empathy and compassion within society, including among the authorities.
He also emphasised the importance of early education for children about love and responsibility towards animals, starting at home and in schools, to nurture a more caring generation.
"All parties need to work together, including the media, to play an important role, such as broadcasting advertisements that 'animal abuse is a crime' as well as programmes that promote love for animals so that the public becomes more aware and fearful of committing abuse," Khalid said.
There is also a need for close cooperation between the police, the local authorities, and the Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia (DVS), together with the community, to combat animal cruelty.
He also proposed implementing a permit system for cat owners, making microchipping and vaccination mandatory to facilitate monitoring and control of the stray cat population.
"The high population of stray cats is one of the main causes of animal abuse cases," Khalid said.
Recently, a case of cat abuse at Pangsapuri Seri Nilam in Bandar Baru Ampang went viral after closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showed a cat being cruelly treated by a child.
The incident, believed to have occurred at the same location as a previous abuse case, sparked public outrage and led to calls for firm action to be taken against the perpetrator.
