Establish Animal Welfare Board to manage stray issues – NGO

Summary

• GHRF urges govt to establish an Animal Welfare Board to safeguard animal rights.

• It suggests the board be parked under the Prime Minister’s Department.

An NGO has urged the government to establish an Animal Welfare Board to safeguard animal rights.

This was among the proposals that the Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF) made during a meeting with the Housing and Local Government Ministry director-general Fadzli Kenali on March 4.

“It should be an independent and empowered board, separate from the Veterinary Services Department (DVS) and parked under the Prime Minister’s Department.

“This board would be tasked with safeguarding animal rights, combating cruelty, and overseeing the welfare of all animals nationwide,” its president S Shashi Kumar told Malaysiakini.

On Feb 24, about 100 activists staged a second rally outside the Parliament alleging the government had failed to act against the inhumane killing of stray animals by local councils.

The first rally was held in November last year.

During the protest, Shashi also accused DVS of failing to protect stray animals and demanded the establishment of an independent body to enforce the Animal Welfare Act.

Following the rally, the housing and local government minister’s private secretary Lee Chin Loke reached out for a meeting.

Include stakeholders

Shashi said the board should include members of animal rights advocates and experts to ensure the views of all stakeholders are considered.

“This structure will ensure that the board has the autonomy, resources, and political support needed to effect meaningful change and protect the rights of animals in Malaysia,” he added.

Acknowledging that local councils may have been stretched thin when handling the stray population, Shashi also suggested that private shelters be allowed to help out, with allocations from the government.

The suggestions involve three options:-

• A trap, neuter, vaccinate, and release (TNVR) programme being conducted nationwide.

• Providing government land to private operators to establish shelters, creating safe havens for the strays.

• A hybrid programme where some animals are taken into shelters while others are safely released into the environment after TNVR.

“To this, Fadzli asked us to submit a comprehensive working paper outlining the budget required to address the issue.

“It was also suggested that the next meeting be held with a representative from the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, along with the submission of the working paper outlining the required budget to effectively address the stray issue.

“In the meantime, we urge all local councils to immediately cease killing strays pending a resolution on the matter,” Shashi added.

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