KUCHING: It is crucial to review laws related to animal welfare periodically to ensure they remain relevant and effective in addressing current issues and circumstances.
Animal welfare advocate Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said this allows for the amendment of outdated provisions, thereby building ethical standards, preventing cruelty and promoting the well-being of all sentient beings.
He said gathering data, scientific evidence and input from stakeholders is necessary to effectively review and potentially revise old provisions.
“This comprehensive approach helps to understand current practices, challenges, and opportunities related to animal welfare.
“One provision that requires urgent review is found in the Local Government Act of 1976, promulgated nearly 50 years ago,” he said in a statement today (Apr 12).
He said there is a clause in the Act that provides local authorities with the power, among others, to prohibit, regulate, inspect, supervise, licence, seize, destroy and dispose of animals, birds or fish within their local authority area.
“Surely, we can find more humane ways to deal with problematic animals, especially stray dogs,” he added.
Instead, he said, local authorities should be tasked with finding alternative solutions, such as providing proper shelters and humane treatment of animals in distress.
According to Lee, the word ‘destroy’ has no place in a society which also gives importance to provisions of an Animal Welfare Act which was passed in 2015.
“This Act addresses various forms of cruelty to animals including killing (a euphemism for ‘destroying’?), administration of poisons and animal fighting.
“The Act gives animal welfare officers a crucial role in investigating cases of animal cruelty, and as such, that provision seems to be contrary to the provision in the Local Government Act which allows other officers to act in a manner that can be deemed to be cruel,” he explained.
Lee also called for adjustments to the Animal Welfare Act, noting its current applicability only in Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan.
“This Act must also be amended to include Sabah and Sarawak. There must be a uniform application,” he said.
