Animal abusers deserve harsher penalties
Linawati Adnan
June 19, 2015 01:10 MYT
June 19, 2015 01:10 MYT
-People need to understand that animals too are beings, with a heart and feelings. - File Photo
It is indeed listless yet a good wait for animal lovers and activists in Malaysia, now that Dewan Rakyat has finally passed a new motion that will better protect the wellbeing of other forms of living creatures than human beings.
Living creatures in this context includes any beasts, birds, aquatic animals, reptiles or insects, but does not include wildlife under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 [Act 716].
To put it simply, anybody who is caught abusing, neglecting and abandoning any of these animals can be charged for animal cruelty under this new bill.
If convicted, abusers will face a hefty fine of between RM20,000 and RM100,000 and jail sentence not exceeding three years.
Dewan Rakyat passes Animal Welfare Bill
Lorna Fischer, the Chief Operating Officer of Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Friday lauds the introduction of the bill citing that it is a clear indication of a new era in animal protection in the country.
“The reality is that, this is a start of a whole new era. We have been struggling for all these years to improve the welfare of the animals in Malaysia.
"With a legislation that is more inclusive and with harsher penalties, the future is brighter for these animals,” said Fischer.
Fisher also said that public awareness against animal cruelty must be heightened and that the public needs to play a crucial role in protecting the animals.
“People must stop treating animals like they are some sort of a possession. Like a settee in a house. You keep a settee when it serves you and once it is old or broken, you take it out and chuck it by the roadside.
“People need to understand that animals too are beings with compassions and feelings,” she added.
SPCA Selangor, which is an animal welfare non-governmental organisation and animal lovers nationwide had been lobbying for this new bill for close to a decade following numerous high profile cases of animal abusers.
The new Animal Welfare Bill was debated in Parliament on Tuesday and was passed on Wednesday.