KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian celebrities and artistes have taken to social media to condemn the alleged cruelty surrounding the death of a dog named Rocky, with many calling for a transparent investigation and stronger enforcement of animal welfare laws.
The incident, which has sparked widespread public debate online, prompted actors, singers and influencers to voice their outrage, stressing that no animal should be subjected to unnecessary suffering regardless of the circumstances.
Comedian Harith Iskander urged Malaysians to reflect on whether compassion is being sacrificed in the name of following procedures amid public outrage over the death of Rocky.
He said he was less interested in debating who was right or wrong than in understanding how people could reach a point where procedures became more important than empathy.
"Those who committed terrible acts often did not see themselves as bad people, but instead believed they were simply doing their jobs, following procedures or doing what they felt was necessary," he said in an Instagram video.
He also said that he could not bring himself to watch the video because he struggled to see any living being suffer.
He said the incident was not just about one dog, but raised broader questions about society's values and humanity.
Actress Nabila Huda, a passionate animal lover, went to the extent of begging Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to look into the incident.
"I know you have far bigger responsibilities to carry for this country. But please... hear us," she posted on her Instagram handle.
"Our hearts are shattered every time we see animals being abused, tortured and killed with such cruelty. How much longer must they continue to suffer without protection or anyone to speak up for them?"
She also said that it was time for stricter laws and punishments that truly reflect the cruelty of these crimes.
She added that animal abuse is not a small issue and that it reflects how much compassion we choose to have as a society.
Celebrity and TV personality Daphne Iking said she has been a dog lover her entire life, and too often, she hears that cruelty towards dogs is justified because they are considered unclean in Islam.
"Touching a dog doesn't make you impure. It actually is a ruling about cleanliness, so it was never ever meant to be an excuse for cruelty," she said.
She said under Malaysia's Animal Welfare Act, cruelty carries a fine of up to RM100,000 as well as three years in prison. Killing an animal is a separate criminal offence on its own, and this law actually exists.
"You can actually report animal cruelty to the SAFM or Veterinary Services Department, and I think we should continue to push for stray capture operations that protect animals with dignity and not endanger them, because if we stay silent, we're pretty much part of that problem too," she said.
On Wednesday (July 29), a group of men beat and strangled a dog to death in Taman Teluk Gedung Indah, Port Klang, according to Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia (SAFM).
"The owner pleaded for Rocky to be released and returned to him, but he was ignored.
"Rocky remained in the noose until he stopped moving and eventually died in front of his owner," the group said in a statement on Friday (July 31).
The group also alleged that two officers from the Klang Royal City Council were present.
On Friday, the council said it was leaving the matter entirely to the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident that resulted in the dog's death during the operation.
It said an operation was carried out on Wednesday between 8.30pm and midnight following formal complaints from residents over safety concerns arising from an increasing number of stray dogs in the area.
The council said the enforcement operation was conducted in accordance with By-law 17(1) of the MPK Dog Licensing and Breeding Kennels By-laws 2007, with the support of the health, community and sustainable development committee, and that the local councillor had been duly informed before the operation.
