PETALING JAYA: Lawyers for Animal Rights has called for an urgent investigation into the death of a puppy that was allegedly struck twice by a vehicle in Port Dickson.
The group said the incident, detailed in a police report lodged at the Lukut police station, involved a white pickup truck that allegedly hit the puppy before striking it a second time, killing the animal.
Lawyers for Animal Rights representative Rajesh Nagarajan said the incident should not be dismissed as a momentary lapse of attention, negligence or an unfortunate accident.
"What makes this case so troubling is not simply that a defenceless animal was struck by a vehicle, but that the vehicle returned and struck the same animal a second time," he said in a statement on Sunday (Aug 9).
CCTV footage showed a puppy sleeping on the road before the driver of the Mitsubishi Triton appeared to deliberately drive over the animal.
The driver then reversed the vehicle and ran over the puppy a second time, killing it.
The group urged authorities to investigate the case under Section 29(1)(a) and Section 29(1)(e) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, which deal with cruelty involving the beating, terrifying or torturing of an animal.
Rajesh said treating the case merely as a property offence under the Penal Code would be a serious mischaracterisation of the law and undermine the legislative intent of the Animal Welfare Act.
"Animals are not disposable objects, they are sentient beings entitled to protection from cruelty, and the law should be applied accordingly," he said.
The group also urged police and relevant authorities to act quickly to preserve evidence, warning that delays could weaken the investigation.
Rajesh said crucial steps include securing CCTV footage in the vicinity, tracing the vehicle, obtaining a veterinary forensic report, and recording statements from witnesses.
"Each of these steps becomes harder, and the evidence weaker, with every day that passes," he said.
The group said the case reflected a wider pattern of violence against animals in Malaysia, which often goes uninvestigated or gets downgraded to less serious offences.
Rajesh added that the case must immediately be classified under the Animal Welfare Act 2015, followed by the swift identification, arrest and prosecution of the person responsible.
"There should be no downgrading of the charge, and no delay in bringing it.
"A society cannot describe itself as civilised while conduct of this kind goes unpunished," he said.
