The Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) plans to meet with its 27 residents committees to obtain feedback on the implementation of a controversial requirement in which dog owners must obtain prior permission from their neighbours before being allowed to keep their pets.

Earlier this year, the council had informed Subang Jaya residents about a new requirement where dog owners have to get written consent from their neighbours on both sides of their homes before the dog licence could be issued to them.

The introduction of this new policy has drawn virulent opposition from some Subang Jaya residents.

MPSJ's public relation officer Azfarizal Abdul Rashid told malaysiakini that the new guideline is introduced using the local council's authority under existing laws on dog ownership after numerous complaints were lodged by residents.

He explained that the complaints ranged from noisy dogs, unclean upkeeping of dogs in and around homes to public safety when owners walk their dogs.

"There have been concern expressed when dogs are brought to the park without having dog muzzles on," he added.

"For now, the implementation of these guidelines have been put on hold as MPSJ is awaiting feedback from residents, and also on the outcome of a meeting to be held with the Jawatankuasa Penduduk (residents committees)."

Azfarizal added MPSJ will consider the views of the residents, but stressed that the council has the power to solve the problem the best way it sees fit.

"There is a section called syarat-syarat am (general guidelines) in existing laws on dog licences that empowers us to introduce new guidelines," he said.

However, Azfarizal could not ascertain when the meeting with residents would be held aside from saying that "we are supposed to have it this month but we may postpone it to September".

The current guidelines found on the council's website stipulate that owners can obtain a dog licence if they produce a government-registered veterinarians letter showing that the pet had undergone a medical check-up and treatment.

The licence, which costs RM10, comes with a responsibility placed on owners to ensure that their dogs do not create a public nuisance with its incessant barking, that food and excrete should not be disposed of indiscriminately, and that owners must ensure the cleanliness of their premises.

It further reads that "dogs should not be allowed to roam outside its premises without the owner's presence and when a dog is taken out it must be on a leash and have a muzzle on".

A fine of RM2,000, or a maximum of a year's jail sentence, or both, can be imposed on owners who violate the regulations.

Residents reaction

A chairperson from one of the 27 residents committees under the MPSJ said he has not been officially informed of the meeting but had nevertheless gather wind of the event.

PC Yeoh, a chairperson of the 'zone three' committee which covers about 6,000 houses and apartments, went on to relate reactions he had gathered so far in his interactions with some residents.

"First and foremost, we're totally in the dark as to the exact details of the guidelines and having now read new media reports, it appears consent has to be given by neighbours who live in front and at the back of our homes as well," he said.

Yeoh argued that the enforcement of the guidelines "would create more controversy than good".

"You're creating disharmony amongst neighbours and I'm very concerned with the outcome of this, which may put a wedge between neighbours," he said.

Incidentally, Yeoh wears two hats - apart from being a member of the 'zone three' residents committee, he is also the secretary of the USJ area residents association.

He explained that while members of the residents committees are appointed by the MPSJ, residents associations are set up on a voluntary basis by residents and office bearers are democratically elected.

Yeoh added that most of the feedbacks received so far seem to indicate that Subang Jaya residents are against the new ruling, with some asserting that dogs can help in preventing break-ins and crime.

"The question of noise levels and nuisance created by dogs is very relative as it depends on the personal preference of your neighbours," he pointed out.

Yeoh argued that the local council should look at the complaints against errant dog owners on a case-to-case basis, instead of applying the new permission-from-neighbours policy across the board.