Perhilitan on hunt for man who sprayed paint on monkey

PETALING JAYA: The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) is on the hunt for the culprit seen in a video spraying a helpless, caged monkey with red paint. Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said investigations had started but there were no leads yet.

“Perhilitan will continue to track the perpetrator, ” he said when contacted yesterday.

Last week, a non-governmental organisation called the Society of Animal Feeders Malaysia (SAFM) said it had received a report about a viral video showing a man using red spray paint on a monkey.

In the one-and-a-half minute video, the animal could be seen crying out in distress as it was sprayed by the man, while two other men watched and another person filmed the act.

A four-wheel drive bearing what appears to be a government department crest and a Johor-registered licence plate can be seen.

“SAFM condemns the act by the man who mercilessly sprayed the unfortunate monkey with red paint.

“This kind of behaviour is extremely cruel and inhumane, ” SAFM said in a Facebook post last week.

The group hoped that Perhilitan would take the issue seriously and carry out investigations under Section 86 of the Wildlife Conservation Act for cruelty to wildlife.

If convicted, the offender is liable to be fined between RM5,000 and RM50,000, jailed for up to one year or both.

When contacted, SAFM said the incident took place in Kampung Tiram Duku, Tanjung Kupang, Johor.SAFM urged anyone with information to call 016-266 2007.