The Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor has demanded that all parties found guilty of animal cruelty face the full force of the law, including officers of local authorities.
Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, who is the royal patron of the Stray Free Selangor campaign under the Selangor Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, issued the statement on 1 August through the Selangor Royal Office on Facebook.
“No form of cruelty to animals will be accepted or tolerated, regardless of who the perpetrator is, what position they hold, what race or religion they belong to, or what reason is given,” she said, as reported by FMT.
The statement came in response to the killing of a pet dog named Rocky in Taman Teluk Gedung Indah, Port Klang. The Star reported that Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia alleged a group of men beat and strangled the dog to death on 29 July while its owner pleaded for the animal to be released. Two officers from the Klang Royal City Council were present at the scene, according to the animal welfare group.
Rocky died at about 10.50pm. Klang Selatan police chief Lim Jit Huey said the case is being investigated under Section 428 of the Penal Code for mischief by killing an animal, which carries up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
The Klang Royal City Council later defended its officers, saying the operation was carried out between 8.30pm and midnight following formal complaints from residents about stray dogs in the area. The council said Rocky’s owner had acted aggressively by attempting to cut the noose used to restrain the dog and threatening to harm herself if the animal was not released.
Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin called on the Federal Government to review penalties under the Animal Welfare Act 2015 to ensure punishments for offenders are made stricter and enforced more consistently.
“Compassion is not a sign of weakness. The ability to protect the weakest among us is the true measure of the strength, maturity and civilisation of a society,” she said.
