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Rajesh Nagarajan and Sachpreetraj Singh said the driver should be charged under Section 29(1) of the Animal Welfare Act for causing unnecessary suffering to the feline.
“The reluctance to prosecute threatens animal welfare standards and risks setting a dangerous precedent of leniency towards offenders,” they said in a statement.
They also said that the inaction undermines the enforcement of the Act, raising doubts about the authorities’ commitment to addressing animal cruelty in Malaysia.
“The public needs reassurance that legal protection for animals is not just theoretical but will be applied effectively. Inaction in such cases risks emboldening offenders and undermines the purpose of the law,” they added.
Last Saturday, the Penang veterinary services department stressed that the investigation into the incident, which went viral after a video was posted on social media last month, was done transparently.
The department said that the complete investigation papers were referred to the deputy public prosecutor’s office and the decision was to not charge the driver.
However, the suspect has been advised to be more careful and responsible in considering the welfare of animals in the future, it added.
In August, Seberang Perai Selatan police chief Chong Boo Khim was reported to have said that the driver’s actions were believed to be not deliberate.
He said that based on the report lodged by the man, he was trying to take the stray to a veterinary clinic in Simpang Ampat but the cat jumped out of the back of his vehicle and inadvertently ended up hanging off the back of the truck.
Chong added that the man only realised what happened once he arrived at the clinic and then proceeded to remove the collar from the cat’s neck.
The 18-month-old female cat, which was put under the department’s care after receiving treatment, is expected to be put up for adoption.
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