KUALA LUMPUR: A backbencher called on the government to allocate funds to ensure the better welfare of stray dogs and cats in the country.
RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) made the appeal after citing the recent incident involving the shooting of a stray dog named Kopi.
“I appeal to the Prime Minister to provide special allocations for the Veterinary Services Department (DVS) throughout Malaysia to look after the welfare of abandoned animals such as dogs and cats,” he said.
“The tragic incident involving a stray dog named Kopi, who was shot dead by Besut district council staff in Terengganu, was heartbreaking,” he said.
He added that this incident has sparked outrage.
Rayer noted that the Prime Minister did not address the welfare of strays during the tabling of Budget 2025.
"After the tragic case of Kopi, I hope the government would show commitment to caring for and protecting stray animals. A country can be valued based on how we value these abandoned animals," he said.
The story of Kopi went viral after a TikTok user uploaded a video of the dog playing with a kitten in March this year.
The Star previously reported that the man who witnessed the dog’s death said he first heard gunshots at about 1:30 am on Oct 7.
He then ran out of the house and saw a group of men walking past Kopi while she lay on the road whimpering.
He said there was a lot of blood, and it took five minutes for her to stop breathing.
The witness, who wished not to be named, frequently fed Kopi and played with her.
On Oct 11, a post on Instagram by my forever doggo shared the story of Kopi's death online, and the post went viral and garnered
Animal rights activists have expressed their intention to file a civil suit against the Besut District Council for killing the stray dog.
