PETALING JAYA, Oct 7: PEKA Khazanah (Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia) today lodged a report at the Petaling Jaya Police Headquarters, against Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), alleging that it was involved in the illegal shooting of several stray dogs at the university’s campus grounds.
The report was lodged by Dr.Kartini Farah Abd Rahim on behalf of PEKA.
In her report, Dr. Kartini said based on evidence received by PEKA, it was found that UPM had engaged a pest controller company, PCH Care Services, to get rid of the dogs at the university’s grounds. She said the evidence – photographs – showed that guns were used to down the dogs. The use of firearms in this instance is against the law, she said citing Section 29, of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, which prohibits the killing, torture and injuring of any animal without cause.
Section 30 (1) of the same Act prohibits the killing of any animal unless legally approved.
In her report, she also noted that the Firearms Act 1960 and or the Firearms Act (higher penalty) 1971, controls the legal ownership and the use of firearms.
She urged the police to conduct a proper investigation into both UPM and PCH Care Services and the use of firearms in the incident and take the appropriate action.
In a statement last weekend, PEKA took UPM to task, saying its reponse to the news of dogs being poisoned and shot to dead at its campus was lackadaisical and misleading.
It said that while UPM issued a statement of regret over the incident, it had also aknowledged that it was a management matter. “A crime has been committed and the perpetrators must be brought to justice” PEKA’s President Rajesh Nagarajan said.
— WE