AMPANG: Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin graced the Stray Free Selangor programme in conjunction with World Animal Day 2022 at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
World Animal Day is celebrated on Oct 4 every year.
According to Bernama, she was greeted on arrival by SPCA patron Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye and chairman Christine Chin, as well as former Veterinary Services Department director-general Datuk Dr Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam.
Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, who is also the royal patron of the programme, witnessed the handing over of cheques by Selangor Mentri Besar Incorporated, Better Foundation Malaysia, Konsortium Jaringan Selangor, Asia Pacific University, and Mystique Universal Sdn Bhd totalling RM390,000.
She left the SPCA at about 1pm after taking a tour of its cat care centre.
According to Chin, SPCA encouraged the large-scale spaying and neutering of stray animals under the programme to reduce their population as well as to raise public awareness on being kind towards animals.
She said public donations allowed them to provide up to an 80% discount to rescuers who bring stray cats and dogs to SPCA to get them spayed and neutered.
Lee said the Animal Welfare Act 2015 should be tightened with heavier penalties for misdemeanours as well as mistreatment and abuse of animals.
“Under the Act, a person commits an offence of animal cruelty if he beats, kicks, ill-treats, tortures, infuriates or terrifies any animal.
“Animal abusers could be fined between RM20,000 and RM100,000, or face a jail term of up to three years, or both,” he said.
He urged the public to lodge reports of animal abuse to bring offenders to justice.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
