Input wanted on enforcing new Act on animal abusers

PUTRAJAYA: The Department of Veterinary Services is inviting the public to give input on how the Animal Welfare Act 2015 should be enforced against animal abusers.

Its deputy director-general (development), Datuk Dr Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam, said key sections to be addressed first were licensing of activities involving animals, registration of animal welfare volunteers and ethics for animal testing and research.

“We need consultation with stakeholders in coming up with the Act's rules and regulations to make it acceptable to the public,” he said during a meeting with various stakeholders here on Wednesday.

The Act, passed by Parliament last year, received Royal Assent in December.

The department’s Animal Welfare Unit deputy director, Dr S. Saravanakumar, said a draft of the regulations would be made available on www.dvs.gov.my and the public could give feedback via an online survey from Aug 2 to 16.

He said that issuing licences for animal related activities such as managing an animal shelter allow for the Act to be better enforced.

“Licence holders could face compounds or court action for violating the terms,” he said.

It was learnt that the department was considering issuing the licences on an annual or five-year period and would charge RM50 for new registrations or renewals.

Dr Saravanakumar said the Act would also impose conditions on the voluntary animal welfare assistants who help the Ministry’s animal welfare officers.

Under the Act, animal abusers can be fined between RM20,000 and RM100,000 or jailed up to three years, or both. Previously, the penalty was a maximum fine of RM50,000, one year in jail, or both, under the Animals Act 1953.