Activists file report over calls to poison dogs in Seremban

Summary

• Animal rights activists lodge a police report over graphic comments in a Facebook group allegedly advocating the poisoning and killing of stray dogs in Bandar Sri Sendayan, Seremban.

• NGO president Kalaivanan Ravichandran claims the remarks violate the Animal Welfare Act 2015 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

• They demand stricter enforcement from both authorities and social media platforms to prevent incitement of violence against animals.

Outraged animal rights activists lodged a police report last night over “disturbing” online comments advocating for the harming of stray dogs in Bandar Sri Sendayan, Seremban.

Malaysian Stray Animal Association (SAFM) president Kalaivanan Ravichandran said the report was filed against “graphic and alarming” comments on a post in the Facebook group “Sendayan macam-macam ada”, which has upwards of 114,000 followers.

The comments, he said, advocated for the poisoning and killing of stray dogs in the area.

“These comments, which include confessions and detailed instructions on how to harm these animals, are not only deeply upsetting, but also a clear violation of animal welfare laws,” he stressed in a statement.

Kalaivanan highlighted that the online remarks appear to violate provisions under the Animal Welfare Act 2015, particularly Section 30, which prohibits the brutal killing of animals and Section 30 on preventing the administration of poison to animals.

He added that the comments go against Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which prohibits the misuse of network facilities or services with the intent to cause distress, harm, or incite hate.

“We call upon the authorities to act swiftly and thoroughly in investigating this case and to ensure that those responsible for these heinous actions are held accountable under the law.

“The welfare and protection of animals must be taken seriously, and such barbaric behaviour should not be tolerated in our society,” Kalaivanan emphasised.

He also urged social media platforms to strengthen monitoring and enforcement to protect human and animal welfare by ensuring such platforms are not used to incite violence or cruelty.

The report at the Sentul district police headquarters was lodged by SAFM in collaboration with Furrykids Safehaven, Malaysia Animal Welfare Association, Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF), and other activists.

Substantial evidence

In a separate statement, GHRF highlighted that the comments in question were not merely expressions of frustration or concern, but were “violent, inflammatory and openly boasted about the murder of innocent animals”.

Noting that it had handed over substantial evidence to the police, GHRF said some of the appalling revelations from Facebook users on the posting included a comment by one user who “openly admitted” to poisoning four dogs while “arrogantly stating” that no one could stop him.

Another user is said to have posted detailed instructions on how to ensure dogs ingest chemical poison and die, even suggesting that such poison be given to “animal lovers”.

GHRF also claimed that one user had uploaded a video of a dead dog believed to have died from poisoning. An individual in the video “cruelly kicked” the animal’s lifeless body.

“This is not just a crime against animals - this is a complete collapse of human decency,” said GHRF president Shashi Kumar.

“When poisoning becomes a form of entertainment and murder is declared proudly on social media, we are not dealing with isolated cruelty. We are facing a cultural and moral breakdown.”

He claimed that the comments appear to have been triggered by Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun’s recent announcement of a plan to cull stray dogs in predominantly Malay areas.

“The announcement seems to have been misinterpreted, or worse, taken as a green light by certain individuals to carry out the brutal killing of stray dogs on their own without compassion, and entirely outside the bounds of law and humanity,” Shashi added.

Protest in Putrajaya

On May 16, over 100 protesters descended on Putrajaya to urge the government to stop the culling of stray dogs and institute reforms.

The protesters, led by GHRF, gathered outside the headquarters of the Agriculture and Food Ministry, as well as the Housing and Local Government Ministry in the afternoon to hand over memorandums listing their demands.

The protest came the week after over 300 animal welfare campaigners gathered outside the Negeri Sembilan government’s administrative building for a similar demonstration, following the state’s assemblypersons unanimously voting to cull stray dogs in Malay-majority areas.

Aminuddin had earlier defended the plan and assured that the culling would be done according to standard operating procedures and legal guidelines.

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