KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has recorded an alarming spike in reported animal cruelty cases to the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) between 2016 and 2025.
In 2016, there were 463 reported cases. By 2025, that figure had surged to 9,889. Of those cases, only 0.22 per cent resulted in prosecution, prompting a nationwide call for urgent reform in animal welfare governance.
In response, ExecuteAWA – Malaysia’s First National Humanity Movement for Greater Animal Welfare – will convene the country’s inaugural National Humanity Press tomorrow at LT20, Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus in Subang Jaya, Selangor. The two-hour event begins at 1pm and coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) 2015.
“ExecuteAWA fights to ensure punishment is carried out against perpetrators of crimes against animals,” said founder Sue Ann Kong, describing it as a citizen-driven movement committed to strengthening animal welfare governance in Malaysia.
She said animal welfare has increasingly become a flashpoint for broader concerns about governance, accountability and public trust.
Yet misunderstandings – some careless, others deliberate – have distorted what ExecuteAWA stands for.
“A dangerous narrative has emerged suggesting that enforcement of the law equates to killing strays. This confusion has been amplified by controversial cases, including the shooting of a stray dog, Kopi, in Besut, Terengganu, which ignited national outrage,” said Sue.
“Under Section 29 of the Animal Welfare Act, cruelty and abuse are punishable offences. Yet enforcement has been lethargic.
“Meanwhile, Section 30(2)(e), which grants limited authority for population control under strict conditions, has been invoked aggressively – often under the banner of ‘stray management’.”
ExecuteAWA is challenging what it sees as an imbalance and is raising critical questions:
• Where is the government’s data proving that catch-and-kill strategies work?
• Where is the due diligence on preventive measures?
“My first encounter with the catch-and-kill method was in my home town of Ipoh 39 years ago, when I was only three,” said Sue.
“If that method was successful in controlling strays, why are we facing a national crisis today?
“That is why we are calling on the government to release its data on the effectiveness of its catch-and-kill strategy. These are not emotional questions. They are governance questions.”
Tomorrow’s event will bring together national NGOs, feeders, rescuers, veterinarians and advocates from across Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, united in calling for a more humane approach to animal welfare.
The movement is in the process of championing #executeTNVRM and #positiveecosystems, which promote structured, evidence-based strategies to strengthen Malaysia’s animal protection standards rather than weaken them.
TNVRM stands for Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release-Manage. “Positive ecosystems” refers to the creation of a structured, sustainable and collaborative environment for animal management, shifting away from cruelty and towards humane, science-based solutions such as TNVRM.
ExecuteAWA will also launch its #projektogetherboleh initiative tomorrow.
BOLEH is an acronym that stands for:
Breakdown: Plan logistics clearly, including areas, veterinarians, volunteers, funding and recovery spaces.
Organise: Confirm roles, dates and locations so responsibilities are clearly defined.
Launch: Carry out humane trapping, spay or neuter procedures and vaccination.
Extend: Provide post-operative care, vaccination and microchipping.
Holistic documentation: Record all activities to ensure accountability and traceability.
Asked whether there are plans to table a motion or propose amendments to the AWA, Sue said: “We are working towards that, but meaningful reform requires proper due diligence and rigorous research. It cannot be reduced to slogans.
“We are currently developing a ‘Top 10’ policy framework and working with Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung, who will be at tomorrow’s event.
“While this is not part of the immediate announcement, the intention is genuine. Should Lee decide to table it, we are fully prepared.”
ExecuteAWA has already developed its own national plan, grounded in extensive engagement, data collection and research.
“We are not claiming to be experts. We are citizens doing what we can – responsibly and strategically.
“It would be unrealistic to expect Malaysia’s federal, state and local authorities to suddenly coordinate perfectly. Experience suggests otherwise.
“That is precisely why unity must first begin on the ground. Communities, NGOs, rescuers and advocates must align under a common national mission.”
This press conference marks that step – bringing parties together under a coordinated national effort.
“Unity is essential. When there is genuine unity on the ground, there is finally a fair chance of holding the government properly accountable. And that is exactly what we intend to do,” Sue added.