KUALA LUMPUR – After a teenager escaped a caning sentence for setting a dog on fire, MCA is calling for the Animal Welfare Act 2015 to be amended so that abusers are made to serve at animal shelters.
Party spokesman Saw Yee Fung said judges could be given the discretion to sentence animal abusers to community service at animal pounds on a regular basis.
She suggested “a minimum of four hours up to three years”, adding that this could be applied to first-time underaged convicted animal abusers.
“Such exposure will inculcate care and empathy for animals, besides inducing contrition,” Saw said.
“Likewise, animal shelters which rely on public donations and volunteer services will be a beneficiary of an additional human resource.”
Saw was commenting on the Johor Baru High Court’s decision yesterday to reverse the light caning sentence imposed by the sessions court and maintain only the good behaviour bond on an 18-year-old who set a dog on fire.
The teen, Braden Yap Hong Sheng, had committed the offence in March.
However, the high court ruled that he cannot be imposed with two sentences, based on Section 293 of the Criminal Procedure Code that only allows one sentence on an accused.
Saw said although the high court had a valid decision, public anger would not be assuaged.
She also expressed concern that would-be perpetrators would cite the high court’s decision to assume they could get away with only a good behaviour bond.
She added that there is a need to create public awareness against animal abuse, and amending the act to allow for community service could reduce such incidents. – The Vibes, May 22, 2023
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