Nearly 500 animal rights activists from across Malaysia gathered at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur last night to hold a solemn candlelight vigil. The event was organized in memory of Kopi, a dog whose death during a stray-culling operation by the Besut municipal council in Terengganu last year sparked national outrage.
According to FMT, despite the passage of nearly three months since Kopi's death, no charges have been filed against those responsible, said lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan, who attended the vigil. "Our demands were for the perpetrators of Kopi's murder to be brought to justice."
The vigil was organized by four prominent organizations advocating for animal welfare: the Malaysian Animal Welfare Association (Mawa), Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia, the Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF), and Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia.
S. Shashi Kumar, president of GHRF, stated that the vigil was not only a tribute to Kopi but also a stand against the growing prevalence of animal cruelty and abuse, particularly incidents involving local councils. "We are urging the government to adopt the humane approach of trap, neuter, and release instead of resorting to the inhumane practice of killing stray animals," he said.
During his speech, Shashi highlighted the urgent need to reform Malaysia's Animal Welfare Act 2015, which he described as outdated. He pointed to a recent viral TikTok video showing an individual demonstrating how to poison monkeys as evidence of the systemic failures in current policies and enforcement mechanisms.
"This is not an isolated issue," Shashi stressed. "It reflects a national concern that requires the governments urgent attention and action." He added that a memorandum addressing these concerns was submitted to Members of Parliament at the Parliament building on Nov 12 last year.
Kopi gained national attention in March 2024 after a heartwarming photo of him playing with a stray cat went viral. His death on Oct 6 has since become a rallying cry for stricter animal welfare enforcement. On Thursday, four activists filed for an injunction to halt stray dog shootings by the Besut district council pending a lawsuit against the council and the Terengganu government over Kopis killing.
The injunction was filed by Dr. Kartini Farah Abdul Rahim, S. Mukunan, Hong Hai San, and Shashi Kumar in the Kuala Terengganu High Court. The state government and district council, however, filed applications to strike out the lawsuit on Dec 31 and Jan 1, respectively.
The vigil ended with activists and attendees lighting candles and observing a moment of silence in memory of Kopi and other animals who have suffered due to cruelty. The event symbolized the unity and resolve of Malaysia's animal rights community in pushing for humane treatment of animals and systemic changes to prevent future abuses.
"This fight is far from over," Rajesh said, emphasizing the collective determination to ensure justice for Kopi and other voiceless victims. The activists vowed to continue advocating for legislative reforms and greater accountability to protect Malaysia's animals.
Source: FMT
