Citing animal shootings, Ismail calls for review of Animal Welfare Act

 

Former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and deputy law and institutional reform minister M Kula Segaran accepting a memorandum from 34 animal welfare groups demanding legislative reform for the protection of strays at Parliament on Nov 12.

PETALING JAYA: 

Ismail Sabri Yaakob (BN-Bera) has urged the government to review the Animal Welfare Act 2015, following growing concerns over the treatment of stray animals and recent instances of animal shootings by local authorities.

The former prime minister told the Dewan Rakyat that he had received a memorandum from NGOs demanding reforms to the Animal Welfare Act.

Ismail said he had tabled the Act in Parliament in 2015 when he was the agriculture minister and that one of the key provisions in the legislation was making it an offence to shoot animals.

He expressed concern over the current practices of certain municipal councils, which he claimed were using their own by-laws to justify the killing of stray animals.

“Although they may have their own by-laws, the Animal Welfare Act takes precedence, being a federal law. I hope the councils do not use these by-laws as an excuse to shoot animals at will,” he said when debating the Supply Bill 2025.

Last week, 34 animal welfare groups submitted a memorandum to Parliament, demanding legislative reform for the protection of strays.

The memorandum lists eight key demands, including for the government to set up a body under the Prime Minister’s Department to monitor, enforce and support human practices in animal welfare nationwide.

The group also called for reforms to the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit cruel treatment of strays and harsh capture techniques, for the government to mandate a national trap-neuter-return programme, and strict regulation of animal breeders.

Ismail urged the government to re-examine the Act in light of the reforms suggested and make the necessary amendments.

He also called for close collaboration between NGOs managing shelters for stray animals and local councils.

Ismail questioned the capacity of the veterinary services department (DVS) to implement the Act effectively, including the number of enforcement officers available to take action and conduct monitoring.

“If DVS lacks the capability to monitor, the government should form a special committee to oversee cases of animal abuse or assign this task to another authority,” he added. - FMT