On 13 July 2025, the auditorium at HELP University’s School of Law transformed into the emotional epicentre of a growing movement against animal cruelty. The forum, titled “Stray Lives Matter: Justice for Kopi and All Stray Animals,” was far more than a discussion — it was a raw, visual indictment of the way local councils across Malaysia have treated the nation’s stray population.
The audience watched in stunned silence as video after video exposed graphic scenes of dogs being executed at close range, strangled with wire loops, and dragged through the streets — their lifeless bodies later dumped as refuse. Many of these animals, speakers revealed, were neutered, vaccinated, and tagged under the community animal care system. Yet, despite their protected status, they were mercilessly culled.
Legal voices condemn council actions
Key voices at the event called out the systematic brutality that has long plagued municipal stray control programmes. Shashi Kumar, President of the Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF), accused local authorities of deploying night raids with no regard for the law, nor for the welfare of animals. Despite the existence of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, enforcement, he said, remains patchy and insincere — often executed through third-party contractors with no veterinary oversight.
Animal rescuers, many of whom operate on personal funds, face the added burden of having to pay hefty sums — sometimes RM1,000 or more per animal — just to reclaim dogs taken by local councils. This has led many in the community to describe the fee as a “ransom for compassion.”
Legal support for the cause reached a crescendo when human rights lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan boldly pledged to defend anyone penalised for feeding strays. Declaring that “any by-law against feeding stray animals is unconstitutional,” Rajesh offered to take such cases to court pro bono, affirming that acts of kindness should never be criminalised.
The protest in Kopi’s name
Among the countless cases highlighted, one name reverberated with heartbreak: Kopi. A neutered, vaccinated, and ear-tagged community dog, Kopi was beloved by the local community — until he was killed during a council raid. His death, captured in footage screened during the forum, has become a potent symbol of the perceived betrayal by authorities.
The forum culminated in a call for a national protest. On 25 July 2025, animal welfare supporters will gather at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya. Organisers aim to deliver a united message: end the killing of strays, enforce existing animal protection laws, abolish violent raid tactics, and protect the rights of individuals and NGOs who care for stray animals.
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