Malaysia: Xavier Jayakumar instructs Perhilitan to look into monkey shooting case

martin carvalho The Star 27 May 19;

KUALA LUMPUR: The Wildlife and National Park Protection Department (Perhilitan) has been directed to investigate the case where an 18-year-old man allegedly shot and killed a caged monkey in Sitiawan.

"Investigations by the police have been completed and they have submitted their papers to the Attorney-General.

"I have also instructed Perhilitan to look at the case and see what enactments they can take action under," said

Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar said at the launch of the Water Asset Revenue Management System for Smart Water Grid Networks here on Monday (May 27).

"It is most unpleasant to see such treatment of a wild animal. Let us see what the AG says as he will have to read the report first," he said.

Dr Xavier did not discount the possibility of Perhilitan taking action under Section 30 of the Animal Welfare Act 2015 for using a firearm to kill an animal without authority or justification.

The offence carries a fine of not less than RM20,000 and not more than RM100,000, imprisonment for a term not more than three years or both upon conviction.

He was asked to comment on recent case where a teenager recorded himself shooting the caged monkey.

The video went viral, sparking outrage among animal lovers.

The teenager was detained along with his 54-year-old father by the police at their residence in Taman Kenangan, Sitiawan at 9.20pm Wednesday (May 22).

He was remanded with his father till May 26 (Sunday) and had admitted shooting the monkey for fun using his father's handgun.

During the arrest, police also seized a black Glock .42 automatic pistol, a gun holster, 12 bullets and a firearm permit.

Police investigations were carried out under Section 39 of the Firearms Act 1960 and Section 428 of the Penal Code.

Teen could face action under Animal Welfare Act
martin carvalho The Star 28 May 19;

KUALA LUMPUR: The teenager who shot dead a caged monkey in Sitiawan last week could face action under the Animal Welfare Act 2015.

Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar said he could face action under Section 30 of the Animal Welfare Act 2015 for the offence of using a firearm to kill the animal without authority or justification.

The offence carries a fine of not less than RM20,000 and not more than RM100,000 or three years imprisonment or both upon conviction.

Dr Xavier said the Department of Wildlife and National Park Protection has been directed to look into the matter further.

“Any action on our part is in addition to police action,” he said at the launching of Water Asset Revenue Management System for Smart Water Grid Networks yesterday.

Dr Xavier added that he had seen the video of the suspect shooting the monkey which he described as very unpleasant.

“It is most unpleasant to see something like that on video and treatment of a wild animal,” he said.

The 18-year-old boy had confessed to having trapped the monkey in a banana plantation for damaging crops.

He also admitted that he took his father’s gun while he was sleeping in the banana plantation’s shed on the day of the incident.

He was arrested along with his father, an entrepreneur, who is also the owner of the gun, at their residence in Taman Kenangan last Wednesday.

Police also seized a black Glock .42 automatic pistol, a gun holster, 12 bullets and a firearms permit.

On water matters, Dr Xavier said the government plans to map and tap underground water to broaden raw water sources.

“We haven’t actually tapped that source at all.

“The plans will involve the use of 4D aerial digital mapping of critical areas in the country.

“From there, we will know where the underground water is,” he said, adding that the mapping would be carried out initially in Johor, Kedah and Selangor.