New Animal Welfare Bill for 2015 Passed in Malaysia!
Dear All,
I have just heard this excellent news, that our wonderful government in Malaysia is taking animal welfare more seriously and has approved a new set of laws known as the Animal Welfare Bill 2015. Under this bill, convicted offenders can be fined up to RM 100,000 and/or sentenced to imprisonment for up to 3 years.
I would like to sincerely thank Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and all who have worked very hard to make this possible, and I am so glad that effective measures have been implemented to protect the welfare of animals in Malaysia. I have always loved animals and always cringe whenever I enter a pet shop, as I fear finding unwanted and severely ill animals inside… This is what motivated me to build a large aviary and fish pond in the Kechara Forest Retreat, so that I may be able to provide shelter and care for animals in suffering.
I believe this new law will definitely increase public awareness about the importance of taking care of animals, as Datuk Ismail Sabri suggested, and also deter many potential offenders. I am also very glad to hear that the ministry have set up a SMS service to enable the public to report cases of animal abuse via SMS to the number 15888.
Please share this news with all your friends. Together, let’s end or at least curb animal abuse by being aware of the laws and regulations of our country that support this goal.
Tsem Rinpoche
Dewan Rakyat passes Animal Welfare Bill
17 June 2015 | Source: Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 (Bernama) — Dewan Rakyat Wednesday passed the Animal Welfare Bill, which promotes animal welfare and responsible ownership of animals, hence marking another milestone for Malaysia.
Once the law is put into effect, Malaysia will be at par with member countries of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) which has specific laws related to animal welfare, such as India, New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob when winding up the debate on the bill said the law would definitely raise public awareness on the importance of taking care of animal welfare.
He said it was also hoped that with the increased awareness, the public would be willing to come forward in lodging reports with solid evidence or being the prosecution’s witnesses in court.
“Prosecution can only be done for cases which have solid evidence that is beyond reasonable doubt to convict the offenders,” he said.
Ismail Sabri said so far, a total of 160 enforcement officers and 2,500 technical employees from the Veterinary Services Department in the peninsula and Labuan had been identified to be appointed as Animal Welfare Officers.
He said special training regarding animal welfare would also be given to those officers.
The bill, which was tabled for first reading on April 9, allows the establishment of the Animal Welfare Board, which among others, will monitor the work of associations and organisations established for the purpose of preventing trauma, pain or suffering to the animals.
It also proposes a minimum fine of RM20,000 and a maximum of RM100,000 or imprisonment of up to three years, or both, for those who are convicted under the law for the first time, including for animal abuse, killing by shooting without reasonable cause, giving pesticides and involvement in animal fighting ventures.
[Source: http://mltic.my/general/news/dewan-rakyat-passes-animal-welfare-bill-MY12848.html]
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This is great news. Appreciate the government for enacting a law to protect the animals. Animals are just like human and have feelings and the only different is the physical forms. A law is so necessary to avoid animal being abuse and kill unnecessary. Recently there were so many pictures or videos of people abusing animals and posted it on social media to show their ‘achievement’. I hope once this law is enacted, it can bring fine and punishment to this cruel people.
In all types of cultural traditions/faiths, animals known to be our companions and helpers. So no real reason to abuse them.
chood the oral instructions of kyabje zong Rinpoche is a very sepecial publication
It is great to see that Malaysia is finally enforcing laws to protect animals.
Every sentient being regardless of status race or type must be treated equally. Just because we are only familiar with humans, it does not mean that animals or other beings do not exist.
All animals have feelings, you don’t have to get that particular animal to speak in your language that they have feelings whatsoever. With your own two eyes you can see clearly what happens when you mistreat an animal.
With the law enforced, the people who mistreat animals will be brought to justice, and will be punished accordingly.
This is so necessary and important in protecting our fury friends! All beings deserve love, care, kindness and equality regardless of their status, colour, look etc. A country that protects the weak is a country that has capable and kind leaders with promising future. This gives us hope and pride to be the citizen of the country. Thank you!
It is great to see that Malaysia has finally passed a new law that will help to further protect the rights of animals.
This would hopefully help to curb or at least lessen the number of cases of animals that are being abused everyday.
It is good to hear that with this new bill in place, we are now on par with countries such as New Zealand, United Kingdom, Australia and India.
This sets an example for other countries around the world to follow in the footsteps of Malaysia just like how Malaysia followed the footsteps of countries such as New Zealand and etc to implement this bill in hopes that one day, we can completely rid animal abuse.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful news!
“Life is as dear, is as dear to a mute creature as it is to a man. Just as one wants happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not die, so do other creatures”. – His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama.
Excellent news that Malaysia has approved a new set of Laws known as the Animal Welfare Bill 2015, – whereby, convicted offenders can be fined up to RM100,000.00 and/or sentenced up to 3 years imprisonment. Once the law is put into effect, Malaysia will be at par with member countries of World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) such as United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and India. We, as well as many, many others, are well aware that “kind-hearted and self-dedicated animal welfare care-takers and lovers of animals” work with deep empathy and can be the most pain-saturated people where dedication and love for animals make them vulenerable to their great feelings of empathy to animals, wither at work or play. All living beings are said to be spiritual in essence and are conscious with their feelings – and alive in their hearts like every human beings too! All living beings do naturally have a longing for happiness and be free from all these varied experiences of sufferings. But, by seeking such wordly pursuits at our fundamental levels of understanding, we only will succeed in creating more and more sufferings, if one cares to just look at the World around us! That’s why we need the Dharma and the Guru, like Tsem Rinpoche to show us, teach us and truly identifying the source of sufferings and finally how to avoid or overcome them. Om Mani Padme Hung.