KUALA LUMPUR: A review of the Animal Welfare Act 2015 should be conducted following reports of abuse involving stray animals, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The former prime minister expressed concern that local councils could have abused the Animal Welfare Act 2015 to justify their actions of shooting stray animals.
“Since the Animal Welfare Act was passed in Parliament in 2015, it binds local councils and others in enforcement. Even though they have by-laws, the Act takes precedence because it was enacted in Parliament, making it superior to by-laws.
“I hope that local councils will not use this as an excuse to indiscriminately shoot animals without reasonable justification as permitted by the Veterinary Services Department (DVS),” he said when debating the Supply Bill 2025 at the committee stage at the Dewan Rakyat here, on Monday (Nov 16).
Ismail Sabri said he tabled the Act in Parliament in 2015 when he was the Agriculture and Food Industries Minister to protect the welfare of animals.
He said one of the key provisions in the legislation was making it an offence to shoot animals.
Apart from reviewing and amending the Act, Ismail Sabri, who is also the Bera Member of Parliament, proposed that the government consider establishing a special committee to monitor animal abuse cases or delegate this responsibility to another authority if the DVS lacks manpower.
“How many DVS officers have been appointed to enforce this Act, particularly regarding taking action and monitoring?
“I hope that cases of cruelty, such as those reported in Sabah, where animals were beaten to death, and in Selayang, where a cat was put into a washing machine and killed, will not be repeated.
“These matters are our collective responsibility. Even though these animals roam due to homelessness or rummage through rubbish bins out of hunger, I believe we must ensure their welfare and well-being,” he added.
He also suggested that local councils collaborate with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to provide shelters for stray animals.
On Nov 12, over 100 animal lovers from 32 groups who held a peaceful protest at Parliament submitted a memorandum seeking amendments to the Animal Welfare Act 2015 and advocating for humane and sustainable practices in stray animal management.
The groups also demanded that the protection of stray animals should no longer be under DVS and that a new independent board be established to monitor, enforce, and support humane practices in animal welfare.
The memorandum was received by the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran (PH-Ipoh Barat) and Ismail Sabri.
