Cover image via The StarThe long awaited Animal Welfare Bill which has been debated in Parliament for the past 4 years, has finally been passed by the Dewan Rakyat
So what does the bill consist of?
1. Establishment of an Animal Welfare Board
2. Requirement of a license to carry out activities involving animals
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3. A fine of RM100,000 for acts of torturing animals
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4. Practice of ethical animal testing
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5. Ban on stray shooting
6. Enforcement officers are given the power to relieve an animal from distress if a written letter is given by a certified veterinary surgeon
If an animal is **found to be suffering or more likely to not survive** and **a written letter was given by a veterinary surgeon confirming this**, an enforcement officer is **given the right to put down the animal**.
However, an application to the court needs to be made to notify the owner or the licensee of the animal regarding the action taken on the animal.
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7. A warrant is NOT needed to search and seize premises if it could lead to lost of material evidence
Usually, a warrant is needed to obtain evidence or enter a premise to rescue an animal. However, in the event that **a delay in obtaining a warrant would risk lost of material evidence**, welfare officers are **allowed to enter the premise without a warrant**.
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8. The courts have the power to disqualify or deprive any owner or licensee from owning an animal indefinitely
If a court of law is satisfied that the **owner or licensee is unfit to own an animal**, the court may **deprive he/she of ownership indefinitely**. The offence must first be proven beyond reasonable double and fall under one of the sections in the act.
To add, the court will also **forfeit any apparatus used in the process of torturing the animal**.
9. Failure to comply with an order from a minister could lead to a fine between RM10,000 to RM50,000 or imprisonment for a term not more than 1 year or both
A minister is given the authority to make any order as may be expedientor necessary for the better carrying out the provisions of the act. However a failure to comply with any written order will result in a fine of not less than RM10,000 and not more than RM50,000 or imprisonment for a term not more than 1 year or both.
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The Animal Welfare Bill is a big stepping stone for Malaysia as the tightening of standards and promotion of animal welfare in the country have long been overdue
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