Efforts Intensify to Enforce Animal Welfare Laws in Malaysia

Despite protections under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) 2015, prosecutions for animal cruelty remain rare. The AWA, which took effect in July 2017, promotes responsible pet ownership and sets standards for the care, handling, transport, and use of animals. Offenses such as animal abuse, abandonment, and insufficient provision of basic needs can result in fines from RM20,000 to RM100,000, imprisonment for up to three years, or both.

Sue Ann Kong, founder of the organization Execute AWA, highlights that the prosecution rate is only 0.22%, even though the Veterinary Services Department (DVS) received more than 19,000 complaints related to animal welfare since 2021. Kong emphasizes that the initiative aims to ensure AWA 2015 is fully implemented and that offenders are held accountable. She calls for authorities to investigate abuse cases thoroughly, prosecute offenders, and enforce penalties as stipulated in the law.

Execute AWA held its first gathering at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur in May 2025. During this event, they launched the #ProjekTogetherBoleh initiative, which aims to create a collaborative ecosystem involving animal welfare organizations, veterinarians, policymakers, enforcement agencies, and the public to find sustainable solutions for animal welfare issues. This project started in Negri Sembilan in November 2025, supported by the Rembau District Council and NGO NS Happy Paws, and expanded to Seremban in June with backing from Millennia Village and FurryKids SafeHaven.

Among the proposed reforms are ceasing the killing of stray animals, implementing humane trap-neuter-vaccinate-return-manage (TNVRM) programs, and promoting pet adoption over commercial breeding. Kong believes that fostering empathy and respect for animal life can enhance overall community well-being.

Punita Nook Naidu, head of regulations and enforcement at Execute AWA, noted that in 2024, Malaysia had approximately 11 million stray dogs, with increasing numbers likely unaccounted for due to lack of reliable data. She argued that culling, which would require killing about 200 stray dogs daily for over 150 years to eliminate the population, is inhumane and ineffective.

Noraseela Khalid, head of diversity at Execute AWA, stated that achieving a 70% sterilization rate could reduce stray populations by up to 94%, proving that TNVRM is a viable solution.

In a statement to StarMetro, the DVS reported receiving 19,303 animal welfare complaints from 2021 to 2025, with 6,512 falling under AWA 2015. However, many complaints were repeated or outside its jurisdiction. From 2021 to 2026, the DVS brought 49 cases involving animal cruelty to court, but only a fraction resulted in successful prosecutions, which totaled RM567,300 in fines.

DVS clarified that many alleged cruelty cases were resolved without prosecution due to various factors, including insufficient evidence or the absence of designated suspects. While some practices perceived as cruel may actually be legitimate management strategies, DVS ensures strict enforcement in cases of serious neglect or abuse, subject to legal evidence.

The DVS encourages the public to report suspected animal welfare issues promptly through their MyAnimalWelfare online system while warning against redundant complaints that can hinder case management.