Thorough probe needed into gruesome killing of cats at UM — Dr Wan Azizah

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 — Bandar Tun Razak MP Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has called for immediate action and a thorough investigation to identify the cause of the recent gruesome deaths of cats at Universiti Malaya (UM).

Dr Wan Azizah strongly condemned animal cruelty, saying the probe is needed to ensure incidents that violate the law do not happen again.

“A thorough investigation should be carried out to take into account all the facts of the case, especially the discovery of cats being mutilated,” said Dr Wan Azizah, expressing concern and shock at the heartbreaking incident.

She said this in a statement read out by political secretary to the Prime Minister Datuk Azman Abidin at a press conference at the Bandar Tun Razak MP’s Office here today.

She also urged UM to increase the role and effectiveness of the UM Animal Guardians entity, which was established in August, by involving parties with expertise such as animal lovers’ associations and police.

At the press conference, Azman, who is also patron of Persatuan Rakan Kuching Malaysia, expressed concern the incident could lead to a more serious issue if not thoroughly investigation.

Meanwhile, Malaysia Animal Association president Arie Dwi Andika, who is a crime analyst for the Malaysia Animal Law and Operational Security Compliance, said the Animal Welfare Act 2015 could be invoked if there are criminal elements involving human actions in the incident, as he believes the deaths were not caused by wild animal attacks.

In Putrajaya, the Veterinary Services Department (DVS) has confirmed in a statement that it received reports of two incidents related to the deaths of cats, allegedly occurring at several locations on the UM campus.

The first complaint, received on December 17, was on an incident at the Faculty of Business and Economics. However, the Federal Territory DVS Animal Welfare Unit, which conducted the investigation on the same day, was informed by UM management that the actual event occurred on December 12, and the cat carcass had already been buried.

“The university management said that there were no witnesses to the incident and that there was no closed-circuit television at the building. An examination of the cat’s carcass, which was completely mutilated, revealed it had decomposed, and an autopsy could not be conducted to confirm the cause of death,” read the statement.

The second complaint, received on December 20, involved the deaths of four cats at different locations around the campus.

DVS urged those with information about animal cruelty to file an official complaint online with veterinary authorities so action can be taken according to the Animal Welfare Act 2015.

— Bernama