
Perak considers legal action over misleading stray dog claims
State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Sandrea Ng Shy Ching said the matter is being taken seriously, especially after some parties questioned the credibility of local councils over the handling of recent stray dog culling operations.
'The government will not hesitate to act against those who issue false statements. We are currently reviewing the matter from a legal standpoint before taking further action.
'We want all parties to be responsible when issuing statements to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings,' she told a press conference here today.
On Monday, two short video clips - 15 and 13 seconds, went viral on the Malaysia Homeless Animal Movement Facebook page. The videos showed dozens of stray dogs in cages on a truck belonging to the Ipoh City Council (MBI), prompting strong reactions from netizens.
Yesterday, MBI denied claims that the dogs were buried alive at the Lahat Animal Detention Centre. It clarified that all animals involved were humanely put to sleep (PTS), in accordance with established guidelines and legal provisions.
Sandrea added that the state government has introduced several initiatives to tackle the stray animal issue, including the Perak Pawsitive programme. Since its launch last year, more than 300 dogs and 250 cats have been neutered through subsidised campaigns.
'We face many challenges in managing stray animals, including limited capacity at impound centres, low awareness among pet owners, and low adoption rates across Perak,' she said.
As of July 20, MBI had received over 900 complaints concerning stray and pet dogs.
MBI enforcement director Ahmad Zaiyadi Sudin said 740 of the complaints were about stray dogs, while 201 involved pet dogs, mainly in the Ipoh area.
'The number of complaints is high. Some involved dog bites, and if I'm not mistaken, there has been at least one fatal case. There are also concerns over diseases and other risks.
'When stray dogs are caught, they are kept at the impound centre for around three days. If anyone comes forward to claim them, they can do so by paying a fine,' he said. - Bernama
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
Operators reminded to uphold professionalism amid Semporna slapping probe
KOTA KINABALU: Tourism players must maintain professionalism and treat guests with respect, says the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry in the wake of a viral slapping incident between a diving instructor and a foreign tourist in Semporna. Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the case was now under formal investigation, with the instructor already arrested. 'Let me remind all operators to uphold professionalism and treat guests with respect. Violence, insults, or intimidation are unacceptable except in clear cases of self-defence. If faced with rude behaviour, respond calmly and try to resolve issues peacefully,' he said in a statement shared on his official Facebook page, on Saturday (July 26). He was commenting on the widely circulated video of the July 23 incident in Semporna, where a local diving instructor was seen slapping and threatening a foreign tourist following a dispute over a dropped oxygen tank. 'All relevant enforcement agencies will work closely to uncover the full story and ensure the process is legal, fair, and transparent,' Tiong said. Initial findings indicated that the altercation began when a compressed air tank was wrongly placed on the boat deck and accidentally dropped, injuring the instructor's foot. This led to a verbal dispute, which escalated into a physical confrontation. 'I want to stress that if either party is found to have acted wrongly or broken the law, action must be taken accordingly, with no favouritism,' Tiong said. He also warned that the ministry will take firm action against the misuse of licences, including dive permits, tour guide credentials, and travel agency approvals. 'We will take firm action against the misuse of licences, including dive permits, tour guide credentials, and travel agency approvals. Travel agencies must use their own licensed vessels, and violations will not be tolerated,' he said. Tiong reminded all tourism operators to comply with safety and operational guidelines strictly, and urged tourists to follow instructions from certified guides to avoid putting themselves or others at risk. With Visit Malaysia Year 2026 approaching, he said all tourism stakeholders must work together to protect the country's image. 'We each have a role to play in ensuring Malaysia remains a globally known friendly destination. Let's help every visitor better understand and respect our laws, culture, and norms,' he added.


The Star
16 hours ago
- The Star
Hanoi police rescue student tricked into filming nude video for blackmail
HANOI: Authorities in Hanoi have successfully rescued a female student who had been psychologically manipulated into filming a nude video under false pretences and blackmailed for money. The victim, a 17-year-old student identified only as X., had been lured into a sophisticated online scam in which perpetrators posed as law enforcement officers. The case came to light around 4pm on Wednesday when the victim's father, D., 46, residing in Viet Hung Ward, received a disturbing message via Zalo from his daughter's account. The message demanded VND300 million (US$11,500) and included a video showing his daughter in a state of complete undress. When D. attempted to call the number, a man's voice answered. He eventually heard his daughter's voice – faint and seemingly coerced – prompting him to report the incident to local police. Upon receiving the report, Viet Hung's police quickly deployed criminal investigators and alerted Hanoii's Police Department. Within two hours, they located the victim alone in a guesthouse on Tạ Quang Buu Street, Bach Khoa Ward, Hanoi. At the scene, police found no other individuals, and the guesthouse owner confirmed that X. had arrived alone and rented the room herself. However, her phone was still connected to a Zoom call with a man dressed in a police uniform, who had used official-sounding terminology and displayed a police badge via camera in an attempt to reinforce the deception. "At first, she didn't believe we were real police officers because she had been manipulated from the beginning," said a police officer. "Only after family members were brought in did the victim begin to realise she had been tricked." At the police station, X. recounted the events that led to her ordeal. Two days earlier, she received a call from a man claiming to be a police officer, who falsely accused her of being linked to a money laundering operation involving her national ID. She was told to cooperate in an investigation and, under pressure, provided access to her Facebook and Zalo accounts, which she was then instructed to delete. Communication continued exclusively via Zoom. During a video call, a man in uniform posed as a police officer and requested personal and financial information. He ultimately instructed X. to undress on camera to 'verify' she was not hiding drugs or other incriminating evidence. "I was told to take off all my clothes so they could check for tattoos or identifying marks related to a suspect," X. said, tearfully recounting the incident. Authorities stressed that the victim had not been physically abducted or restrained but was completely controlled through psychological manipulation. Police called the incident a form of 'online kidnapping'. When asked why she did not seek help from family or friends, the victim explained that she believed she was old enough to handle the situation on her own. The case remains under investigation by Viet Hung's police and the Criminal Police Division as efforts continue to identify the individual or group behind the impersonation and blackmail. Authorities noted that the case serves as a warning about increasingly sophisticated forms of cybercrime that rely on psychological manipulation, impersonation of officials and virtual threats. - Vietnam News


The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Misuse of tourism licences will lead to firm consequences, warns Tiong
KUALA LUMPUR: Firm action will be taken against the misuse of licences, including dive permits, tour guide credentials, and travel agency approvals if found guilty, says Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing. In a Facebook post Saturday (July 26), the Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister responded to a viral video showing a clash between a diving instructor and a foreign tourist in Semporna, Sabah, which has sparked public concern. Initial findings suggest that the incident began during a dive trip when an air tank was improperly placed on the boat deck and accidentally dropped, injuring the instructor's foot. A dispute ensued, which later escalated into a physical confrontation. "The case is now under formal investigation and the instructor has been arrested. Relevant enforcement agencies will work closely to uncover the full story and ensure the process is legal, fair, and transparent," he said. "While investigations continue, the ministry will monitor the case and address any non-compliance in tourism activities." Tiong urged tourism operators to strictly adhere to safety and operational guidelines to prevent similar incidents, while also stressing the importance of tourists cooperating with guides and instructors to ensure their safety and that of others. He also reminded operators to uphold professionalism and treat guests with respect, ensuring that there is no violence, insults, or intimidation involved, except in clear cases of self-defence, and to respond calmly and strive to resolve issues peacefully when faced with rude behaviour. "As Malaysia is known globally as a friendly and welcoming destination, we take pride in our natural beauty and cultural diversity, and we welcome travellers from around the world," he said. He added that with Visit Malaysia Year 2026 approaching, all parties must play their part in protecting the country's image, ensuring that every visitor better understands and respects Malaysia's laws, culture, and norms. "I call on all tourism players to work together to create a safe, respectful, and professional environment, so that both visitors and hosts can fully enjoy the best of Malaysia," he said. – Bernama