On 1 October, a 23-year-old mechanic in Ipoh, Perak, was fined RM20,000 (about S$6,100) by the magistrate’s court after admitting to killing his sister’s pet dog in a brutal attack. The viral video of the attack shocked Malaysia earlier as people demanded justice for the innocent life lost.
The man, identified as M Thineshkumar, pleaded guilty under the Animal Welfare Act 2015.
He was seen striking the dog with an iron rod at his home in Taman Arkid on the night of 18 September.
Magistrate Anis Hanini Abdullah imposed the minimum fine allowed by law and ruled that Thineshkumar would serve one month in jail if he failed to pay.
Attack Captured on Video, Intervention Attempts Futile
An onlooker partly recorded the abuse on a mobile phone. The incident unfolded between 10.30pm on Sept 18 and 9am on Sept 19.
In the footage, a woman believed to be the mother desperately tried to stop him from hitting the dog, to no avail.
The video, later shared widely online, also shows the animal lying on a table bleeding profusely after repeated blows.
Neighbours Alerted Upon Assault
On the day of the incident, neighbours reportedly witnessed the abuser striking the dog as it barked in pain.
The animal had sustained severe injuries – blunt force injury to the head and trauma to the nose – by then. Unfortunately, the dog passed away following emergency care at a Silibin veterinary facility.
Claimed Dog Tried to Bite Him
Upon confrontation, the accused claimed that he had attacked the dog after it attempted to bite him. The veterinarian confirmed the animal was dead due to head trauma.
Later, after the video went viral and widespread anger broke out, the police arrested him.
Animal Rights Group Demands Tougher Charges
Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia (SAFM), an animal rights group, condemned the ruling as insufficient, and stressed that the penalty alone was not enough.
In a statement on 1 October, SAFM acknowledged the fine imposed by the Ipoh Magistrate’s Court in a Facebook post. However, they urged that mandatory prison sentences should be applied in such cases to assert that cruelty to animals is unacceptable.
The group thanked those who reported the abuse to authorities, and vowed to continue their push for stricter law enforcement.
In Malaysia, the Animal Welfare Act allows for penalties of up to RM100,000 (approximately S$30,500) and three years’ imprisonment.
Case Sparks Outrage Across Malaysia
This case has once again reignited debate about animal cruelty laws in Malaysia, and whether harsher penalties are needed to deter abusers.
Watch a video here:
More from Wake Up Singapore:-
Alleged Animal Abuser Arrested for Stabbing Ex-Girlfriend at Malaysian University
Elderly Man in Johor Arrested for Animal Abuse After Cat Owner Found Her Bloodied Pet in Drain
Alpaca Among Other Animals Living in Filth at M’sia Pet Café, Owner Denied Abuse
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