ALOR SETAR – The decades-long saga of the Pak Mie stray animal shelter, which was deemed illegal by the city hall here and surrounded by controversy due to its Muslim owners being willing to handle dogs, looks like it’s headed to a happy, amicable ending.
The elderly caretakers have apparently agreed to relocate, along with 600 of their stray cats and dogs in tow.
Alor Setar City Council (MBAS) Mayor Datuk Zaid Ahmad said the shelter is located on reserve land in Tg Bendahara, Kg Gandin.
The area was identified as a site for a regional sewage treatment plant and sewerage pipeline network project, expected to start on February 15.
The council had issued an eviction notice yesterday and the illegal dwellers have until February 15 to relocate but this is not the first time they have been embroiled in a stand-off with the authorities.
They were issued an eviction notice five years ago but they managed to defer it on grounds that a suitable site needs to be set aside to house the strays.
“We received a letter from the Sewerage Services Department seeking MBAS’ help to expedite the relocation of the shelter, and the city hall has given Halijah Idris (the caretaker) until February 15 to move,” said Zaid in a statement.
“If they fail to do so, MBAS will then take over the task of relocating the animals,” he said, adding that action can be taken under Section 46 (1) (a) of the Roads, Drainage and Buildings Act 1974 (Act 133) for illegal construction (enclosures for the care of dogs and cats) and causing disturbance.
“They had also initially agreed to move out,” he claimed.
The eviction notice was initially not welcomed by the son of Halijah as it was posted on the same day the 76-year-old widow was scheduled to undergo surgery for cancer at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital here on Thursday.
Halijah is the widow of stray rescuer Muhammad Azmi Ismail (Pak Mie), who passed away ind on in 2015, but not before capturing the limelight for safekeeping up to 700 wild dogs and cats.
Their shelter is believed to be the largest colony of domesticated strays in Kedah.
Pak Mie and Halijah have been looking after strays since 1990 and their saga was spotlighted after they were captured on social media performing chores many people avoid.
Their son Badrul Hisham Ramli, 54, a retired army ranger, said the family has been managing the shelter with more than 500 cats and dogs for more than 10 years.
“I found out that there was a notice issued by MBAS stuck to the entrance of the shelter at about 3.50pm on Thursday.
“At that time, my mother was in surgery, which was scheduled from 3pm to 10pm on Thursday. Until now, she is still not fully conscious,” he said.
Badrul said that the notice stated that they were given a week to remove the strays.
“We cannot move on a short notice with so many dogs and cats. We will appeal to MBAS to postpone the relocation.”
But, it was learnt that the city council has persuaded the family to finally consider relocating as it has provided an alternative site in Alor Setar. – The Vibes, January 30, 2021
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