KUALA LUMPUR: Animal welfare movement group ExecuteAWA says it is prepared to provide comprehensive data to the Housing and Local Government Ministry to show that the trap, neuter, vaccinate, reclaim/rehome/return, microchip and manage (TNVRM) approach is the most effective and humane long-term strategy for managing the nation’s stray dog population.
The group’s response follows remarks by Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu on Tuesday that a zero-kill model using trap, neuter, release and manage (TNRM) has not yet been proven effective due to legal, logistical and enforcement constraints.
Aiman Athirah said the conclusion was reached following joint deliberations between the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) and the Health Ministry.
ExecuteAWA founder Sue Ann Kong said the movement is ready to meet Aiman Athirah to present data supporting TNVRM as a viable, science-based alternative to catch-and-kill methods.
“We introduced #ProjekTogetherBoleh during Malaysia’s First National Humanity Movement for Greater Animal Welfare event last Saturday. It is Malaysia’s first science-based preventive programme for stray population management, combining global research with local realities,” said Kong.
“The initiative includes an innovative stray population model built using reverse-engineering methodology and realistic variables such as mortality, reproduction and attrition rates.
“Designed for Malaysian conditions, it equips local councils with defensible, data-driven assessments to guide policy decisions. We are willing to share the data with the deputy minister.”
Kong said ExecuteAWA has formally positioned TNVRM as a structured and measurable alternative to catch-and-kill approaches.
“This framework was created to equip local councils with irrefutable data so authorities can make informed decisions on stray population strategies and demonstrate the effectiveness of TNVRM efforts in phasing out catch-and-kill methods.”
Aiman Athirah made the remarks during a parliamentary discussion on stray dog management in the Special Chamber on March 3, when Syahredzan Johan (PH-Bangi) said stray dogs remain among the most frequent complaints received by local authorities, including the Kajang Municipal Council, raising concerns over public health, safety and environmental cleanliness.
However, Aiman Athirah said the ministry remains open to alternative management models that are practical, sustainable and suited to the current capabilities of local authorities.
Separately, Kong said the event on Saturday also saw Counsel of Claws, a coalition of Malaysian legal practitioners providing pro bono services for animal welfare, announcing that it had filed a Discovery Application to the DVS seeking full disclosure of data and documentation related to the sharp rise in reported animal cruelty cases nationwide.
Counsel of Claws is calling for greater transparency, clearer evidence handling procedures and stronger institutional accountability, particularly amid concerns over low prosecution rates and weak inter-agency coordination in handling animal cruelty cases.
The move forms part of the broader ExecuteAWA campaign to restore public confidence in enforcement systems following what the group described as an alarming rise in reported animal cruelty cases between 2016 and 2025. In 2016, there were 463 reported cases; by 2025, the figure had surged to 9,889 – a 2,035 per cent increase.
Only 0.22 per cent of the 9,889 cases resulted in prosecution, prompting calls for urgent reform in animal welfare governance.
“Malaysia’s animal cruelty crisis and escalating stray population problem did not happen overnight,” said Kong.
“This 2,035 per cent surge in reported animal cruelty cases exposes serious weaknesses in evidence gathering, case triage, chain-of-custody procedures, inter-agency coordination and public reporting systems.
“For decades, NGOs, feeders and rescuers have stepped in independently to care for strays and pursue justice. But these scattered efforts can no longer compensate for institutional complacency, nor should they be used to mask systemic failures.”