MIRI: For a simple mistake, dog owners could face hefty fine up to RM5,000 if their dogs are found without any licence.
Recently, during the State Legislative Assembly sitting (DUN) which was just concluded on November 14, Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian told the august House, during his winding-up speech, that a fine of RM5,000 would be imposed upon anyone who keeps a dog without any licence.
He added that it would be implemented under By-Law 3 of the new Local Authorities (Dog Licensing and Control) By-Laws, 2018.
The new dog licence by-law will be enforced next year or until further directive.
Miri Mayor, Adam Yii, when contacted by the New Sarawak Tribune on the matter, expressed his support, saying that it allows them to have proper determination over the size of the dog population.
“It also helps to ensure responsible ownership of dogs,” he said, adding that sometimes, the high penalty is necessary so that people will pay attention to it.
For Miri Indian Association president, Karambir Singh, the RM5,000 fine imposed under By-Law 3 of the new Local Authorities (Dog Licensing and Control) By-Laws, 2018 might seem quite severe to many dog owners and this is understandable.
“However, first and foremost we need to realise these are extraordinary circumstances as we have a rabies outbreak amongst dogs,” he opined.
“Unfortunately, human lives have also been lost to rabies,” he added.
Karambir believed that these new by-laws have been introduced to manage the situation in order to eliminate rabies from Sarawak.
“The fine of RM5,000 is one of the many measures to manage the situation,” he reiterated.
He said, dog owners are also reminded to be responsible to vaccinate their dogs and keep them within their house compound even after the dogs have been licenced.
