By MIKE PAUL
KLUANG, Nov 13 — Kluang cat cruelty footage that spread rapidly on social media has prompted police to track down a pickup truck driver who was allegedly seen hanging a cat by its neck outside his vehicle window along Jalan Mersing here.
Kluang district police chief Assistant Commissioner Bahrin Mohd Noh said the district police headquarters detected a seven-second video uploaded to Facebook at about 6.30pm on Thursday (Nov 12).
The clip, believed to have been recorded by another road user, shows the driver of a pickup truck with a cat tied by the neck and suspended outside the window as the vehicle passed the Batu 2 stretch of Jalan Mersing.
Three laws cited in the investigation
“Following the incident, police opened an investigation paper,” Bahrin said, according to Harian Metro.
The case is being investigated under Section 428 of the Penal Code, which covers mischief by killing or maiming an animal, Section 29(1)(e) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, state broadcaster RTM reported.
Police have urged anyone with information on the incident to contact the Kluang district police headquarters at 07-778 4222 or the nearest police station. Details of the investigation were also published by RTM’s official news portal.
Animal group calls for swift action
The Stray Animals Malaysia Association (SAFM) has called on the Royal Malaysia Police and the Johor Department of Veterinary Services to carry out an immediate and thorough investigation to identify the man involved.
The group also asked members of the public to come forward with any information and urged the authorities to keep the public informed on the progress of the case and the condition of the animal.
The original video has since been removed, but screenshots of the hanging cat continue to circulate across several social media platforms, drawing strong condemnation from netizens.
Unverified claims online
Several social media posts have claimed that the cat survived and that the man is a former secondary school teacher. Neither claim has been officially confirmed by the police, and the cat’s current condition has not been disclosed.
Under the Animal Welfare Act 2015, offences involving cruelty to animals carry heavy penalties, including fines and imprisonment upon conviction.
The case adds to a series of incidents this week that have placed Malaysian police under public attention, including the Kepong machete attack on a policeman. Kluang police were also at the centre of a major road tragedy earlier this year, covered in Malaysia This Week.
Members of the public are advised not to share the footage further and to channel any information directly to the police to avoid hampering the investigation.
– TNS News