PETALING JAYA: The Veterinary Services Department denied claims that it has been lax in enforcing animal abuse laws.
In a statement responding to a news report published on Dec 21, the department identified several inaccuracies.
“Between 2021 and 2025, the department received 19,303 animal welfare complaints, with 16,340 of these falling under the Animal Welfare Act 2015 (Act 772).
“Additionally, 16,394 complaints have been resolved during this period,” it said on Wednesday (Dec 24).
The department emphasised that the number of complaints reflects a high level of public awareness and understanding of the proper channels for reporting animal welfare issues in Malaysia.
Furthermore, the department reported that 43 cases were successfully prosecuted during this period, resulting in total fines totalling RM445,400.
“All official complaints are lodged through the MyAnimalWelfare system and are directed to field officers for inspection and enforcement,” it said.
The department stated that complaints involving severe abuse that endangers an animal's life are addressed within 24 hours, while neglect cases are handled within three working days.
