Cause of death for elderly man who died trying to save his dog was respiratory failure, say cops

KLANG: The octogenarian who died while trying to prevent the Bentong Municipal Council (MPB) dogcatchers from removing his dog died due to respiratory failure.

Bentong OCPD Supt Zaiham Mohd Kahar (pic) said the deceased Law Sri Kiew's post-mortem report stated that the cause of his death was "respiratory arrest secondary to acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease".

"The case has been classified as sudden death," said Supt Zaiham in a media statement.

He said a 55-year-old MPB employee had lodged a police report in regards to the incident.

"The police also received a report from a 53-year-old woman who is the victim's daughter," said Supt Zaiham.

He added the woman had been informed by a neighbour that her father had collapsed and fainted following the dog catching incident.

"The police has also recorded statements of all the complainants as well as some witnesses," added Supt Zaiham.

He advised members of the public to not speculate about the incident, make baseless comments on social media and raise racial issues.

Supt Zaiham also urged anyone who had witnessed the incident to contact the Bentong police headquarters at 09-2222222.

In the incident which happened at 5pm on Wednesday (May 24), Law, 85, was embroiled in a tug-of-war with MPB dogcatchers who had looped his pet dog to remove it.

Law had held on to the pole, attached to the noose, and refused to allow them from taking his pet when he collapsed, fell into a drain and died.

Law lived alone in Taman Saga, Bentong with his mixed-breed male dog while his children lived in other states.

Law's neighbour Chan Poh Loong, 55, had said neighbours had told the dogcatchers that the canine belonged to the elderly man but they were still adamant on catching it.

The incident has raised the heckles of animal lovers and members of the public who wanted local councils' dog catching modus operandi to be relooked.