Armed with cardboard cutouts of ostriches, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) staged a protest outside the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur mall this afternoon.

The activists urged the wives of politicians, as well as Malaysian celebrities, not to purchase luxury handbags from Hermes and Prada that use Ostrich skin.

"I'm not aware of any leader's wife or celebrity carrying such bags but I'm sure cruelty is never in fashion.

"Including for leaders' wives in this country or the wife of the prime minister in this country.

"If she (the prime minister’s wife) is carrying such bags... she could stop carrying such bags. If she wants to make a public stance, it will be very good," Peta Asia activist Laura Weyman-Jones said.

The protesters also carried banners demanding an end to the usage of ostrich skin.

Peta is a well-known animal rights group, known for its stunts in the United States, but its presence in Asia has been relatively obscure.

The stunts they perform include stripping naked in protest, and splashing paint on passersby who wear animal skin or fur products.

The protest in Bukit Bintang this afternoon however was rather tame, and had only four participants.

The protest lasted almost 40 minutes before they were told to leave by Pavilion's management who promptly set up barricades in front of the Prada store.