Article: Amend archaic ordinance, save the poor animals

Saturday July 25, 2009

THE recent deliberate and heartless act of dumping thousands of broiler chicks in the rain at the office of the Johor State Veterinary Services Department as a sign of protest speaks volumes of the type of farmers we have in our country (The Star, July 23).

I sympathise with the 100-odd poultry farmers' plight with regards to the alleged discrepancies in an incentive scheme allocation. I am sure the authorities will soon find a way to resolve the issue and ensure all parties are happy in the end.

However, I do condemn the way the protest was carried out by the disgruntled farmers. It shows blatant disregard for animal welfare. The farmers have no respect for the sanctity of lives, even if they are of animals.

The farmers would not have dared to carry out such a cruel protest if the authorities had only acted on the numerous calls by animal lovers and welfare organisations to amend the toothless and outdated 1953 Animal Ordinance. They were urged to impose heavy fines and jail terms for anyone who abuses animals.

As long as the archaic Animal Ordinance on animal cruelty is not amended to meet today's demands and challenges, we will continue to witness, helplessly, more of this kind of protests and animal abuses in the near future.

After all, the maximum fine for anyone who abuses animals according to the existing Animal Ordinance is a mere RM200, and it is indeed "chicken feed" to these farmers.

How many more years will it take to amend the 1953 Animal Ordinance? I don't know what is holding up the amendment, but it is indeed sad to note that after so many years of promises by the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) we have yet to see any signs of an amended version.

I appeal to the department's Director-General to shed some light on the status of the amended Animal Ordinance - if any.

S. PARAM,

Ipoh.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: News: Opinion, 25 July 2009