Enactment proposal aims to tackle roaming cattle and buffalo problem in Perak

IPOH: Stray animals, roaming cattle, and buffaloes have been a persistent problem in Perak for decades, requiring an enactment to address it.

Angeline Koo Haai Yen (PH-Keranji) brought forward a motion on a proposal to establish a new enactment concerning the control of strays and roaming animals.

She said the issue has been raised numerous times in the state assembly sessions every term.

Koo said despite the state government designating grazing fields for cattle and buffaloes, the problem persists because livestock farmers refuse to use the designated areas.

“My service centre has received so many complaints regarding roaming animals at villages, residential areas, and parks,” she said in her speech when putting forth the motion at the state assembly here on Tuesday (July 9).

Koo said cows and buffaloes barns should not be built around residential areas.

“Reports of road accidents caused by roaming cattle and buffaloes in Kampar and Batu Gajah districts are concerning.

“According to road accident statistics involving roaming animals from the Batu Gajah District Police headquarters from May 2020 to May 2024, a total of 453 police reports related to accidents and vehicle damage were lodged.

“There were seven reports of fatal road accidents, with two fatalities in 2020, one in 2021, two in 2022, and two in 2023.

“In Kampar, there were 200 police reports lodged, with two fatal accidents in 2023,” she added.

Koo said a developed country meant a clean, safe, and conducive living environment where residents are entitled to a higher quality of life with equal facilities and surroundings.

“But imagine waking up in the morning and seeing piles of foul-smelling animal dung in front of your house. You see cattle walking on parks and roads while defecating everywhere.

“Roaming cattle and buffaloes pose a risk to enforcement officers during capture operations.

“I would also like to outline some of the challenges and constraints faced by enforcement teams such as aggressive actions by livestock breeders or the cowherd, gangsters bringing vehicles to intentionally collide with officers, stalking them, and threatening them with weapons,” she added.

Koo said if stubborn breeders are unwilling to switch to modern farming and continue to let cattle and buffalo roam freely, she suggested that action be taken against them for causing fatal accidents.

“So I propose that the new enactment require all breeders to mark their cattle and buffaloes, and if their livestock are found to cause a fatal accident, they (breeders) must be subjected to serious penalties.

“I believe this punishment can serve as a deterrent. In addition, I propose that livestock owners lose the right to reclaim their livestock if they fail to register or mark after being seized by the local authorities,” she added.