Kuala lumpur: The government is ready to consider the proposal for the provision of a special fund in the federal budget as well as the granting of tax exemption incentives to empower the management of stray animal welfare and lighten the burden on pet owners in the country.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, political secretary at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Datuk Azman Abidin stated that the absence of a dedicated budget has compelled most NGOs and animal shelters to operate voluntarily, relying on personal funds to manage and rescue stray animals. Azman emphasized that special funding would not only aid the government but also help these organizations integrate pets into families by ensuring adequate care and nutrition.
He elaborated that with the availability of special funding, NGOs could be required to adhere to existing standard operating procedures to access these funds, thereby enhancing their animal management capabilities. This statement was made after officiating the Dialogue Session with Agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and Pemain Industri Haiwan Peliharaan (Kucing dan Anjing) Malaysia.
Azman noted the rapid growth of the pet industry, which is opening economic opportunities in various supporting sectors such as food and veterinary services, and reflecting societal lifestyle changes. He underscored the necessity for ethical and disciplined pet ownership to maintain public health, community safety, and neighbourhood harmony.
Emphasizing collaboration, Azman remarked that resolving pet-related issues requires the collective involvement of government agencies, local authorities, NGOs, veterinarians, industry players, academia, and the community. He assured that all proposals and legal improvements from the dialogue session will be compiled into an official proposal paper for submission to the government.
The dialogue session was attended by notable figures including Malaysian Animal Association deputy director-general Dr. Aida Muhid, president Dr. Arie Dwi Andika, and Department of Environmental Health director Dr. Nor Halizam binti Ismail.
NGO representative Jurieena Abdul Rani highlighted the importance of governmental financial support, which enables NGOs to assist local authorities in controlling the population of stray cats and dogs. She acknowledged the platform's effectiveness in facilitating discussions and conveying challenges faced by NGOs in their efforts to aid stray animals.