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The Star
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Negri's policy on strays needs a rethink
THE decision by Negri Sembilan state assembly, endorsed by all 36 assemblymen, sanctioning the culling of street dogs has sparked concern among animal rights advocates and concerned citizens. The voices of protest are louder than those in favour of the decision, and the state authorities ought to take heed of this. Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said his administration was left with no other option to address issues of disturbance and safety caused by the free-roaming canines. The decision, he said, had to be taken as the issue had been repeatedly raised and that gave an impression that his team was not doing anything to address it. Aminuddin promised that the stray dogs would only be euthanised if unclaimed from the pound after their capture. Animal welfare groups, however, want the authorities to consider other options to better manage the stray population. While acknowledging cases where aggressive animals pose risks to public safety, they said culling should not be an option. With no proper SOP in place, activists fear the state government's decision would give enforcement agencies free rein to cull all strays. They also claimed inconsistencies in Aminuddin's announcement as he had initially said only aggressive strays with a history of attacking the public would be put to sleep. Animal rights groups said the Negri Sembilan government should shelve the move while waiting for the outcome of proposals submitted to Housing and Local Government Ministry on managing the stray dog population. It should be noted that there are countries which have resorted to culling strays, particularly the animals that were known to have diseases such as rabies. On the other hand, there are also countries that completely prohibit the killing of street dogs and have adopted more humane measures such as spaying and neutering, sheltering them in pounds and promoting adoption. India, for example, has taken the fertility control route rather than culling, and its stray population has reduced. In North America, fertility control has had similar effectiveness over a 20-year period. These statistics, animal rights groups say, show that it is better to control than to kill. Animal welfare groups are asking that they be allowed to manage the issue via the trap-neuter-release (TNR) programme which they claim is the most effective method. They say it takes a minimum of five years for the programme to yield results and that non- governmental organisations should be given time to prove this. It is learned that the TNR programme in Seremban was only launched in 2023. The groups say they are also financially strained and depend heavily on public donations to cover expenses. For example Furrykids Safehaven, which houses some 2,000 strays in Rantau, claims it needs an average RM130,000 a month to run the shelter. More than half the expenses goes to buying 1,200 bags of kibbles − which cost some RM72,000 − for the dogs, followed by salaries for its 11 workers and veterinary bills, which come up to another RM50,000. Volunteers help catch strays for the TNR programme and feed them after they are released, at no cost to the state. To the people who have cared and continue to care for these voiceless animals, the decision by the authorities seems inhumane. We should perhaps take a page from other nations. The Netherlands, now virtually free of stray dogs, adopted a nationwide sterilisation programme in 1996. Homes were found for more than a million dogs without a single one being put to sleep. Another effective policy by the Dutch government was to impose heavy taxes on purchasing pets from stores, which eventually led people to adopt fur babies from shelters instead. Remember Kopi, the playful stray dog shot dead in Besut, Terengganu, during a culling operation? There are tens of thousands like Kopi all over Malaysia. A society is judged not by how it treats its strongest, but by how it cares for those who cannot fight back. The state government must return to the drawing board and come up with a policy that balances public health and safety with humane considerations. Surely, man's best friend deserves better.
Free Malaysia Today
20-05-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Animal rights groups lodge report over FB post on dog poisoning in Seremban
Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia, together with several other animal rights groups, filed a police report over the Facebook post. (SAFM pic) PETALING JAYA : Several animal rights groups have lodged a police report over a Facebook post said to promote the poisoning and killing of stray dogs in Bandar Sri Sendayan, Seremban. The report was filed yesterday at the Sentul police headquarters by Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia, Furrykids Safehaven, the Malaysia Animal Welfare Association, the Global Human Rights Federation, and several activists. They called for immediate action over the post shared on the 'Sendayan Macam-Macam Ada' Facebook page, which has more than 114,000 followers. They said the comments advocated the poisoning and killing of stray dogs in the area. 'These comments, which include confessions and detailed instructions on how to harm these animals, are not only deeply upsetting but also a clear violation of Malaysia's animal welfare laws,' they said in a joint statement. A screenshot showed Facebook users discussing the use of Roundup herbicide mixed with chicken skin to poison the dogs. The animal rights groups cited Sections 30 and 31 of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, which prohibit the brutal killing of animals and the administration of poison to animals, respectively. They also pointed to Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which prohibits the misuse of network facilities or services with the intent to cause distress, harm, or incite hate. 'We call upon the authorities to act swiftly and thoroughly in investigating this case and to ensure that those responsible for these heinous actions are held accountable under the law,' the groups said. 'The welfare and protection of animals must be taken seriously, and such barbaric behaviour should not be tolerated in our society.' The groups also urged social media companies to strengthen their monitoring of harmful content, warning that platforms were being increasingly misused to incite violence, not just against people, but animals as well. 'We will continue to work with the authorities to ensure that justice is served and that such acts of cruelty are eradicated from our society,' they said.
The Sun
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
State govt urged to halt planned culling of stray dogs in Negri Sembilan
SEREMBAN: Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun has been urged by Gabungan NGO Haiwan Malaysia to cease the state government's plan to cull stray dogs in Malay-majority areas in the state. Earlier today, the coalition handed over a formal memorandum to a representative from the Menteri Besar's office at Wisma Negeri, here, along with a file containing over 5,000 signatures from concerned citizens who strongly oppose the culling. This memorandum submission was presented by Gabungan NGO Haiwan Malaysia, consisting of 40 animal welfare organisations along with a file containing over 5,000 signatures from concerned citizens who strongly oppose the culling The peaceful gathering involving more than 300 individuals was organised by Negri Sembilan-based animal NGO Furrykids Safehaven (FKSH), in collaboration with Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia SAFM, GHRF, and MAWA. 'Our purpose is clear: to stand together and send a strong message that there are humane and sustainable alternatives to managing the stray dog population, and that killing is not a solution. 'These signatures represent a growing movement of Malaysians who believe in compassion, coexistence, and responsible, evidence-based population control strategies. 'We stand united in our firm opposition to the proposed inhumane culling of stray dogs in Negeri Sembilan,' the coalition stated in a statement. Gabungan NGO Haiwan Malaysia also stated that the this submission follows the petition submitted to the Malaysian Parliament in November 2024, calling for humane and effective solutions to address the stray dog population. 'We have already engaged in discussions with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), where we proposed a comprehensive No-Kill Policy for managing stray animals. 'We strongly believe that the solution lies in compassionate, ethical strategies for population control, such as sterilisation and responsible adoption, rather than the barbaric approach of mass killing. 'As a nation that prides itself on its moral and ethical standards, Malaysia must lead by example in promoting a compassionate and inclusive approach to all living beings.' The coalition also suggested Aminuddin to engage in further discussions with the relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), to find a more humane, science-based solution. 'The coalition stands ready to collaborate and offer our expertise to implement a more sustainable and ethical solution. 'We respectfully request an open dialogue to resolve this issue, and we remain committed to working towards a solution that protects the welfare of all animals, human and non-human alike,' the coalition added. Meanwhile FKSH chairman Jeskiran Kaur said the proposed policy by the state government does not address the root cause of the problem and only exacerbates the suffering of innocent animals. 'We believe in long-term solutions such as sterilisation programmes, responsible adoption, and public education campaigns to ensure that the stray dog population is managed humanely. 'We urge the Negeri Sembilan government to reconsider their decision and work with animal welfare groups to find better solutions,' she said. Additionally, Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia SAFM president Kalaivanan Ravichandran strongly advocates for the No-Kill Policy and the urgent need to reform the Animal Welfare Act 2015. 'The proposed culling of stray dogs is not only inhumane but also a temporary and ineffective solution to a much larger issue. Instead, we need comprehensive, long-term measures such as sterilization and responsible adoption, which align with a compassionate, ethical approach to managing the stray animal population. 'The current Animal Welfare Act needs to be reformed to provide more robust protections for animals and promote sustainable, humane strategies. We believe that by reforming this legislation and adopting a No-Kill Policy, Malaysia can set a global example in animal Welfare,' he said. Last month, state assemblymen from both government and the opposition bench were reportedly in unison over plans to eradicate stray dogs in Malay-majority areas within Negri Sembilan. Aminuddin had reportedly said that the presence of these dogs had disrupted the daily lives of the population.
Malaysiakini
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
NGO calls for humane options after N Sembilan approves dog culling
An animal welfare group has urged the Negeri Sembilan government to stop its plans to cull stray dogs in Malay-majority areas of the state. Furrykids Safehaven, which also runs an animal shelter, urged the government to engage with NGOs and veterinary professionals instead to develop a more humane and effective way to manage the stray population. It also urged the state to...
Malaysiakini
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
NGO calls for humane options after N Sembilan approves dog culling
An animal welfare group has urged the Negeri Sembilan government to stop its plans to cull stray dogs in Malay-majority areas of the state. Furrykids Safehaven, which also runs an animal shelter, urged the government to engage with NGOs and veterinary professionals instead to develop a more humane and effective way to manage the stray population. It also urged the state to...
