An animal rights group has urged authorities to launch an immediate investigation into the death of a puppy that was allegedly run over twice by a vehicle in Port Dickson.
Lawyers for Animal Rights said a police report had been lodged at the Lukut police station over the incident, which allegedly involved a white Mitsubishi Triton striking the puppy before reversing and running over it a second time.
Its representative, Rajesh Nagarajan, said the incident should not simply be treated as an accident, momentary lapse of attention or an act of negligence, particularly given the circumstances shown in CCTV footage.
“What makes this case so troubling is not simply that a defenceless animal was struck by a vehicle, but that the vehicle returned and struck the same animal a second time,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
The CCTV footage reportedly showed the puppy lying on the road before the vehicle appeared to drive over it. The driver then reversed the vehicle and allegedly ran over the animal again, resulting in its death.
Lawyers for Animal Rights called for the case to be investigated under Section 29(1)(a) and Section 29(1)(e) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, which cover acts of cruelty involving the beating, terrifying or torturing of animals.
Rajesh said treating the matter solely as a property-related offence under the Penal Code would fail to reflect the seriousness of the alleged conduct and undermine the purpose of the Animal Welfare Act.
He stressed that animals should be protected from cruelty under the law and urged enforcement authorities to ensure the case was handled accordingly.
The group also called on police and relevant agencies to act swiftly to preserve evidence, warning that any delay could affect the strength of the investigation.
Among the steps proposed were securing CCTV recordings from the surrounding area, identifying and tracing the vehicle, obtaining a veterinary forensic report and recording statements from witnesses.
Rajesh said such evidence could become increasingly difficult to obtain as time passes, potentially affecting the investigation.
The group further claimed the incident reflected a broader concern over cases of alleged animal cruelty in Malaysia that may go uninvestigated or be treated as less serious offences.
It called for the case to be classified under the Animal Welfare Act 2015, followed by the prompt identification, arrest and prosecution of the individual responsible if the allegations are substantiated.
“There should be no downgrading of the charge, and no delay in bringing it,” Rajesh said, adding that conduct involving alleged cruelty towards animals should not go unpunished.
