AdminOn the night of January 11, 2025, over 500 animal rights activists gathered at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur to honor the memory of Kopi, a stray dog whose tragic death during a municipal culling operation has ignited a nationwide movement for animal welfare reform. The Candlelight Gathering: Justice for Kopi & All Stray Animals, organized by a coalition of animal rights organizations, was a powerful demonstration of unity and determination. Attendees stood under the glow of flickering candles, each light a symbol of solidarity in the fight against animal cruelty.
Kopi’s story, which captured the hearts of Malaysians after a viral photo of him playing with a stray cat in March 2024, became emblematic of the systemic neglect and abuse suffered by stray animals across the country. His death in October 2024, under the hands of the Besut municipal council during a stray-culling operation in Terengganu, sparked outrage, leading to calls for justice and legislative reform.
The Call for Reform
The gathering featured poignant speeches from leaders of Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia (SAFM), Malaysia Animal Welfare Association (MAWA), the Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF), and the Coalition of Animal NGOs in Malaysia. Their collective message was clear: urgent reform is needed to protect stray animals from inhumane practices and to ensure stricter enforcement of existing laws.
S. Shashi Kumar, President of GHRF, passionately urged the government to abandon the practice of killing stray animals and adopt a more humane approach—Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). “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,” said Shashi. He also highlighted the outdated Animal Welfare Act 2015, calling for its amendment to explicitly ban cruel practices like shooting, poisoning, and inhumane methods of animal capture.
A Push for Justice
The vigil was not only a tribute to Kopi but also a rallying cry for the prosecution of those responsible for his death. Lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan, who attended the vigil, expressed the frustration of many animal welfare advocates, noting that nearly three months had passed since Kopi’s death with no charges filed against the perpetrators. “Our demands were for the perpetrators of Kopi’s murder to be brought to justice,” Rajesh said.
The death of Kopi, and the subsequent delay in legal action, has galvanized activists to take legal steps. In December 2024 and January 2025, four activists, including Shashi Kumar, filed for an injunction to stop stray dog shootings by the Besut district council, which continues to defend its actions. “This is not an isolated issue,” Shashi stressed, pointing to a viral video that showed an individual poisoning monkeys as a stark example of broader failures in animal protection laws.
The Road Ahead
The gathering concluded with a poignant moment of silence for Kopi and all other animals that have suffered from cruelty and neglect. As attendees lit candles in his memory, it was clear that the fight for animal welfare in Malaysia is far from over. The activism sparked by Kopi’s death has already led to increased public awareness and action, with continued efforts to press the government for change.
“This fight is far from over,” Rajesh said, echoing the collective determination of those gathered. The activists vowed to persist in their calls for legislative reforms, stronger animal protection laws, and a commitment to humane treatment of animals across Malaysia. The gathering at Dataran Merdeka was not just a vigil—it was a statement of intent, a pledge to continue the struggle for justice for Kopi and all stray animals in Malaysia.
CJMY
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