PERSATUAN Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia (SAFM) has thrown its support behind the Government’s call to introduce dedicated annual allocations for stray animal welfare programmes through local authorities.
SAFM president Kalaivanan Ravichandran said the move is a significant step towards a more structured national approach to managing the stray animal issue.
“Malaysia now has an important opportunity to move from short-term reaction to long-term humane management,” he said.
SAFM was responding to the recent call by Political Secretary to the Prime Minister, Datuk Azman Abidin, for the Government to consider introducing specific annual allocations to support stray animal welfare programmes implemented by local authorities.
Kalaivanan also welcomed the upcoming dialogue session with Azman, which would address stray animal welfare issues.
The session scheduled on July 20, 2026 involving local authorities, animal welfare organisations and industry players aims to provide a timely platform to strengthen cooperation, improve coordination and develop more effective solutions to address stray animal welfare.
“SAFM welcomes this dialogue and stands ready to support any serious national effort that protects animals, supports communities and helps local authorities build a more humane and effective system,” he said.
According to SAFM, stray animal welfare should no longer be viewed solely as a rescue or shelter issue, but as a broader public interest matter involving public health, responsible pet ownership, animal welfare, community wellbeing and humane population management.
The association said for many years, the responsibility of caring for stray animals has largely fallen on animal welfare organisations, independent rescuers, shelters, feeders and volunteers, many of whom continue operating with limited resources despite the growing scale of the challenge.
SAFM believes the issue now requires stronger institutional support, clearer policy direction and closer collaboration between government agencies, the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), local authorities, veterinary professionals, civil society groups, communities and responsible industry stakeholders.
As a national animal welfare advocacy organisation, SAFM said it is prepared to contribute constructively to the ongoing dialogue by sharing its experience in animal welfare advocacy, anti-cruelty initiatives, public education and community engagement to help shape practical and sustainable policies.
Meanwhile, SAFM also announced that it will launch The Stray Love Project, a community-based animal welfare campaign promoting responsible pet adoption, stray animal welfare, anti-cruelty awareness, pet licensing and responsible pet ownership.
The campaign will be held on Sunday, July 5, from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm at The RiverCity KL in Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur. - July 1, 2026
