IPOH: The Perak government is still looking for suitable land to set up animal shelters run by non-governmental organisations (NGO), says Sandrea Ng.
The state local government committee chairman said three animal welfare NGOs have submitted proposals to set up shelters but the search has been unsuccessful.
"If the land they find is suitable, we will gazette it as under NGO use.
"They will also be charged a nominal fee," she said in a press conference after a visit to the Ramadan Bazaar near Perak Stadium here on Wednesday (March 13).
Ng said more shelters are needed as there were still complaints from the public about stray animals.
"We need the NGOs to help take care of the shelters," she said, adding that a number of animal welfare groups were also helping to address the strays issue using a trap, neuter, release (TNR) approach.
On the quit rent arrears issue faced by the Ipoh Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) on Jalan Gopeng where their shelter is located, Ng said the ISPCA had submitted an appeal to the Land and Mines Department but there was no conclusion yet.
In September last year, ISPCA president Ricky Soong said the organisation had been unable to pay RM33,170 in quit rent arrears owed to the Batu Gajah Land and Mines Department from 2018 to 2023.
