A group of lawyers has urged for a stiffer law to be used against suspects who had allegedly killed a pregnant cat by placing the animal in a clothes dryer at a laundrette.

Lawyers for Animal Rights noted that media reports say the police are investigating the case under Section 428 of the Penal Code, and argued that they should instead use Section 30 of the Animal Welfare Act 2015 (AWA). 

This was in light of the serious nature of the offence and that the AWA allows for stiffer penalties than the Penal Code if the suspects are charged, they added.

Section 428 of the Penal Code carries a penalty of up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both. The quantum of the fine is at the judge’s discretion.

In contrast, Section 30 of the AWA provides for up to three years imprisonment, a fine between RM20,000 and RM100,000, or both. The new law came into effect on July 1 last year.

“Taking into account the brutal nature of the crime as well as to ensure that such acts of senseless violence against animals do not occur in the future, we urge police to immediately investigate and charge the suspects under Section 30 of the AWA 2015.

“Section 428 of the Penal Code and the minimum punishment that it entails would not do justice considering the brutality of the crime.

“This case has drawn national and international attention and in the spirit of Malaysia Baru, we hope that the welfare of animals in Malaysia would be much better protected.

“The police's immediate action in this regard would be a step in the right direction,” the group said in a statement today.

In the Sept 11 incident, two people were caught on CCTV placing a pregnant cat into the dryer of a 24-hour self-service laundrette in Taman Gombak Ria, Kuala Lumpur, and then switching on the machine.

This killed the cat, and footage from the CCTV had been circulated on social media platforms, sparking outrage.

Police arrested two suspects on Sept 14 over the killing, but a third suspect is still at large. 

Meanwhile, Lawyers for Animal Rights chastised the Animal Welfare Board for its silence over the incident, saying that the board has a statutory obligation to ensure that crimes against animals are dealt with under the AWA.

“Regretfully, the Animal Welfare Board, in deafening silence, has done nothing to highlight this matter or to ensure that this matter is dealt with in accordance with the AWA.

“The provisions of the AWA must be complied with and executed accordingly if the authorities are truly serious about improving animal welfare in Malaysia.

“To this effect, we urge the Animal Welfare Board to instruct the police, pursuant to Section 4(2) of AWA, to investigate the suspects under Section 30 of the AWA 2015,” they said.

Section 4(2) of the AWA stipulates that the Animal Welfare Board shall have the power to issue directives to any person, officer, or authority in the performance of its functions, and they shall be bound to follow its directives.