KOTA KINABALU: An elderly woman is believed to have died after she was attacked by stray dogs at the Kunak bus terminal, the latest victim of such attacks in the east coast of Sabah.
Closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) at the terminal showed that the incident happened at 1.49am on Saturday.
In recordings, the woman was seen falling down and using her hands to fend off the animals who had encircled her before the pack lunged and began biting her and ripping her clothes off.
Kunak district police chief Supt Sabarudin Rahmat said the CCTV recordings showed that at least 11 dogs had attacked her.
“Our police investigating team found the dead woman lying on the ground without any clothes left on her,” he said, adding that they received and responded to a distress call at about 6.30am on Saturday.
“There were signs of multiple dog bites on her hands, head, chest, both sides of her waist and legs,” he said.
She is believed to have died of her injuries.
“Based on our investigation, the woman did not have any identification documents and we believe that she is not from Kunak,” he added.
He said the woman’s body has been sent to Hospital Tawau for a post-mortem, and police have classified the case as sudden death.
Lahad Datu Umno youth chief Datuk Seri Dr Anil Sandhu said the latest incident is another reminder that comprehensive action is needed to be taken against the feral dog population in Sabah.
He said in November 2024, stray dogs attacked and killed a two-year-old boy at Kampung Sungai Tohok in Semporna, and in September 2022, a 29-year-old woman was found dead after she was suspected to have been attacked by a pack in Kampung Batu, Semporna.
“All local councils, relevant government agencies as well as animal rights activists should take the problem of stray dogs seriously as the time has come to solve this worrying problem that poses a threat to people,” he said.
“Stray dog attacks can happen in villages, towns and residential areas. There are also many cases of motorcyclists being injured after falling off their motorcycles while trying to avoid dogs chasing them. Joggers are also chased by these animals.”
Anil said stray dogs may become aggressive because of lack of food and their population is increasing without any specific and effective way to control them.
