Minimum fine for abusing animals is now RM20,000

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has achieved a new milestone in protecting animal rights with the Animal Welfare Act 2015 that came into force early this month.

The Act, aimed at promoting responsible animal ownership and preventing animal cruelty, was passed in Parliament two years ago and enforced on July 1.

Under this law, owners have to ensure animals under their care are provided with the right environment and diet, allowed to exhibit their normal behaviour, housed according to their needs, and protected from suffering.

The Department of Veterinary Services, a unit under the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry, announced the official implementation of the Act at Wisma Tani here yesterday.

Department director-general Datuk Dr Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam said the older Animals Act 1953 only penalised cruelty against animals, and the Animal Welfare Act 2015 introduced a whole new range of offences.

“The new Act not only covers animal cruelty, but makes it mandatory to obtain licences for animal-related activities.

“For example, equine centres need to be licensed and meet the basic needs of horses under their care.

“Operators need to fulfil certain standards before they are granted a licence to open centres for animals,” he said, adding that the process would allow the department to monitor such centres.

Dr Quaza clarified that stray and street animals were not covered by the Act, and were managed by municipal authorities.

In the event that municipal authorities or NGOs decide to take in strays, they have to follow the rules under the Act for handling and housing the animals.

Dr Quaza said more than 400 animal welfare officers would be deployed throughout the peninsula and Labuan to enforce the Act.

He said veterinary officers would be trained and granted authority to act on complaints regarding animal welfare.

The minimum fine for abusing animals is RM20,000.

Under the law, those who abuse animals will face a fine of between RM20,000 and RM100,000, a maximum jail term of three years or both upon conviction.

Dr Quaza said the Act would not be enforced in Sabah and Sarawak as they had their own set of animal welfare laws.