GEORGE TOWN – The Penang chapter of the International Aid for the Protection and Welfare of Animals (IAPWA) is offering a RM50,000 reward for verifiable information that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the recent poisoning of stray animals on Penang Island.
In a Facebook post, the organisation said it is seeking direct and credible leads on individuals involved in the poisoning, killing, maiming, or any form of cruelty towards stray cats, stray dogs, or wildlife within the administrative jurisdiction of the Penang Island City Council (MBPP).
“This reward is offered to show that many in our society do not tolerate acts of cruelty towards animals,” the group said.
“It applies to real evidence only, not reposted or viral content, and there is no deadline. Whether the abuse occurred recently, including cases at Penang Hill, or in the past, we want to hear from you.”
IAPWA Penang president Choong Koon Yean told Scoop that the initiative was sparked by public outrage over the recent discovery of poisoned strays at Penang Hill. Among those angered, she said, were regular hikers familiar with the dogs, known to be friendly and often accompanied them during treks.
“They felt that it is not justified that they are poisoned to death just like that. That is why I have some supporters who believe and trust in IAPWA – who approached me.
“…and when they saw this offer was (initially) offered at RM20,000, some of them wanted to top up the amount. (This is) to show the seriousness and to show that there are many people who actually care for these strays,” she said.
Choong believes that even if the perpetrator is not identified, the community-led initiative will serve as a deterrent and raise awareness to prevent similar acts in the future.
On July 13, Scoop reported that the Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) had lodged a police report following the grim discovery of 16 carcasses — including dogs, cats, and birds — found along popular hiking trails.
Choong said animal poisoning at Penang Hill is not new, but earlier cases did not receive similar public attention.
Past incidents, she added, often went unreported or unnoticed as the carcasses were quickly removed or buried.
She also addressed misconceptions linking the trap-neuter-release (TNR) method to the poisoning of strays, clarifying that such cases usually occur in areas where strays cannot be captured for neutering due to difficult terrain.
“Our main aim is to bring awareness to people that TNR actually doesn't cause poisoning, but instead is a pillar of controlling the strays population.
“The majority of the poison cases that we come across are those in areas where we have problems catching dogs or they have very difficult landscapes (to reach).
“The breeding continues (here) and that is where it gets out of control – where people take things into their own hands,” Choong explained.
PHC still investigating
When contacted by Scoop, PHC general manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng said the investigation remains ongoing as the agency continues reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage.
However, he noted that the existing CCTVs are only located at certain areas such as the food court and open spaces — not along the jeep tracks where the poisonings occurred.
“Once you go down the jeep track, we don’t have CCTV there. But we’re still looking through a few CCTV (recordings) because we have to scan (through) the whole July 5th,” he said, referring to the day before the animals were discovered.
“We are also trying to go further out and see if there are any suspicious characters or not.”
Cheok added that officials from the Penang Veterinary Department have exhumed some of the carcasses buried earlier by PHC for post-mortem examinations to determine the type of poison used. Police have also inspected the sites where the animals were found.
He said the corporation is now working to identify blind spots around the hill for possible installation of additional CCTV cameras. – July 12, 2025
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