Those caught abusing animals may soon have to face harder punishments, The Sun Daily reports. The proposed stiffer punishment will be under a new animal welfare law.
According to Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar, the current penalty, a fine of RM200 maximum, is not enough. “The public wants stiffer action to be taken against animal abusers, so those guilty of cruelty to animals will share somewhat similar consequences as cruelty to humans, “he said.
According to The Sun Daily, some of the proposed penalties for animal cruelty under a newly drafted Animal Welfare Bill 2012 is a fine of up to RM100, 000 and up to three years imprisonment. So those found guilty of torturing animals will have to pay a fine, anything between RM20, 000 to RM100, 000, or a jail term of up to three years, or both. These proposed punishments were among the suggestions presented by the public during the first round of public display of the draft.
Once feedback has been received from the public, the ministry will put forward the recommendations to the Malaysian Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, before sending it to the cabinet and the Attorney General’s Chambers for final approval. The bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament early next year.
The draft of the bill is available at the ministry's website until 31 August for the public to provide feedback. Expat Go Malaysia would like to request all expats, especially animal lovers, to visit the above link and provide any feedback to support this bill.
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