No News Is Bad News
Update: But, did anyone trigger the respiratory arrest???
MALAYSIA
‘Elderly man who died during dog-catching operation classified as sudden death’
Post-mortem reveals cause as respiratory arrest, according to police
The case of a 79-year-old man who died during a stray dog-catching operation in Taman Saga, Bentong, last Wednesday, has been classified as a sudden death by police, who urge the public to refrain from speculation and await the investigation’s outcome. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes file pic, May 27, 2023
KUANTAN – Police have classified the case of an elderly man who died during an operation to catch stray dogs in Taman Saga, Bentong, last Wednesday as a sudden death.
Bentong district police chief Zaiham Mohd Kahar said a post-mortem carried out at Bentong Hospital here revealed that the cause of death of the man was “respiratory arrest secondary to acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease”.
He said two police reports were filed on the day of the incident, namely from a 55-year-old Bentong Municipal Council officer and the victim’s 53-year-old daughter, who informed police that her father had collapsed and passed out in front of their house.
According to Zaiham, police had recorded statements from the council officer, the victim’s daughter, and several witnesses to the incident.
“The public is advised not to speculate about the incident, make inappropriate comments on social media, or raise racial issues,” he said in a statement here late last night.
Zaiham also urged anyone who witnessed the incident to contact the operations room of the Bentong district police headquarters at 09-222-2222 or the nearest police station to assist in the investigation.
Meanwhile, Pahang Local Government, Housing, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Datuk Seri Johari Harun asked the public to wait for the outcome of the police investigation into the incident, adding that the Bentong Municipal Council is giving its full cooperation to the authorities.
He said the operation carried out by the Wild and Abandoned Animal Unit, Public Health Department, and municipal services, which also involved four Bentong Municipal Council-appointed contractors, was carried out in accordance with standard operating procedures. – Bernama, May 27, 2023
Is it worth a human life, dog catchers should ask themselves
KUALA LUMPUR, May 26, 2023: Is it worth a human life? This is what dog catchers should ask themselves when carrying out their duties to catch stray dogs.
If dog catchers and authorities say YES, then answer again whether it is YES if the victim was one of your loved ones.
Yes. There are laws but obstructing a civil servant from carrying out their duty is another matter.
What matters in this case is that an elderly man has died due to the actions of dog catchers enforcing the law.
Is the loss of life justified for dog catchers to use force at all means, ignoring public safety, especially the elderly?
That is the most important questions the governments should consider and ask.
In the case of the death of an elderly man in an alleged struggle with dog catchers in Bentong, the police and governments must clarify:
> DID the dog catchers use excessive or unjustified force that resulted in the fatal fall of an unarmed 85-year-old man?;
> IS it justified to charge the dog catchers with manslaughter, if they were found to have caused the fall and death?; and
> A MAN has died and the authorities and government cannot ignore the fact that someone must be held responsible for the death if the man fell duty to a dog catcher/s.
For decades, there had been many complaints and allegations against enforcement officers who had allegedly over zealously carried out their duties, causing injuries and deaths.
The case of dog catchers is just one and the most recent involving enforcement officers.
They must be held responsible when carrying out their duties resulting in injuries and deaths. The question all must ask is, was it justified? If not, then that is clearly an abuse in enforcement power.
There cannot be no action or No Further Action (NFA). Period.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below news reports related to the issues:
Clear guidelines on procedures needed, says Bentong MP after elderly man dies in dog catching incident
Friday, 26 May 2023
9:39 AM MYT
NATION 10h ago
KUANTAN: The authorities need to issue clear guidelines on dog catching procedures, says Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman following the death of an elderly man in an alleged struggle with dog catchers.
Young Syefura urged the Local Government Development Ministry and all local authorities in the country to clearly indicate the process of handling stray dog-catching operations immediately.
"This is to prevent unwanted incidents such as disagreements that can become worse and lead to altercations between local authorities' enforcers and residents or individuals who feed stray dogs," she said in a statement.
It was reported that Law Sei Kiew, 85, died when he was allegedly involved in a tug-of-war with Bentong Municipal Council dog catchers who came to remove his pet dog.
Law fell into a drain in the struggle and was pronounced dead after an ambulance was called.
Young Syefura said she had visited the family of the deceased and expressed her condolences but she did not wish to comment further on the incident.
The police and the Bentong Municipal Council would issue their statements regarding the incident, she added.
"I also call on the media to give space to the family of the deceased and stop speculating about what happened," said Young Syefura. - The Star
Octogenarian dies while trying to save dog from authorities
By New Straits Times - May 25, 2023 @ 9:08pm
Huang Yunhong. - Pic courtesy of Sin Chew DailyBENTONG: An 85-year-old man died while trying to stop municipal council enforcement officers from leaving with his dog outside his house in Taman Saga near here yesterday.
One of the Bentong municipal council team members had tried to take the dog away, prompting Huang Yunhong to hold onto the catch pole to prevent the officers from leaving.
"During the struggle, Huang suddenly collapsed and fell into a drain. He died minutes later," reported FMT.
It is learnt that Huang was indoors and went outside the house gate after realising the enforcement team members had captured his pet dog about 5pm.
He had gone to speak to the officers not to take his dog away when a struggle ensued before he passed out and fell into the drain.
Bentong police chief Superintendent Zaiham Mohd Kahar is expected to issue a statement on the incident.
Pahang Local Government, Housing, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Datuk Seri Johari Harun said he was gathering information on the incident. - NST
Elderly man dies saving pet from dog catchers
By WANI MUTHIAH
Friday, 26 May 2023
“They are also bathed regularly,’’ he added.
The CCTV recordings have been posted on social media by a Facebook user.
The post has since raised the ire of animal activists and dog lovers who have raised their hackles over how Khoo and his dogs were treated in the incident.
Meanwhile, MBPJ Department of Health and Environmental Services director Dr V. Chithradavi said that the matter was being looked into.
“We are still in the process of investigating the team and staff members involved. Once ready, we will update accordingly,’’ she added.
MBPJ sends all the canines caught by its dog catching unit to the PAWS Animal Welfare Society in Ara Damansara, Petaling Jaya.
A PAWS representative said MBPJ had sent in three dogs and a puppy on Thursday (March 23).
“We heard about the commotion and expected the dog owner to come over but no one has come to claim the dogs so far," the representative said. - The Star
NATION 26 Mar 2023
NO action will be taken against a Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) officer who allegedly roughed up a senior citizen during a recent operation to catch stray dogs.
In a statement on Tuesday (April 11), MBPJ said the incident was found to be unintentional.
“The equipment used to catch strays accidentally hit the complainant's face during an altercation.
“MBPJ leaves it to the police for a more transparent investigation and will not protect any personnel involved in wrongdoing,” it added.
The council’s statement concerned a recent controversy involving its personnel during an operation to catch strays.
In a video that went viral last month, a confrontation was seen between MBPJ enforcement personnel and a senior citizen, who was protecting the dogs from capture.
The incident reportedly took place at Taman Kanagapuram in Jalan Klang Lama, Petaling Jaya, on March 23.
The senior citizen, identified as Patrick Khoo, 69, has since been charged with obstructing civil servants from carrying out their duties.
If convicted, he faces a jail term of up to two years or a maximum fine of RM10,000 or both, under Section 186 of the Penal Code.
Khoo has claimed trial.
MBPJ added in its statement that the operation was carried out in response to complaints on Feb 25 and March 20 from an area resident.
It said from 2020 to March this year, a total of 16 complaints about strays were received in Taman Kanagapuram.
“In that period, 12 operations were conducted with 39 stray dogs captured,” it added.
MBPJ said an internal investigation conducted after the incident came up with several recommendations to improve stray-catching operations.
They include the use of body cameras by enforcement personnel and inviting animal activists and local residents along to ensure transparency.
“Photos will also be taken during the operation for... the higher-ups and police,” it added. - The Star
METRO NEWS 24 Mar 2023
MBPJ urged to explain actions of dog catchers
PETALING JAYA: An 85-year-old man died following an incident where he was allegedly involved in a tug-of-war with Bentong Municipal Council dog catchers who came to remove his pet dog.
Law Sei Kiew, lived alone with his seven-year-old mixed breed dog in his double-storey house in Taman Saga in Bentong, Pahang.
According to a neighbour, Chan Poh Loong, 55, the incident happened at 5pm on Wednesday when a group of council dog catchers came to the housing area.
“The dog was inside the compound, but the gate was not locked.
“The dog catchers went near the gate, and the dog came out,’’ said Chan.
He said Law was very attached to the dog, which he had raised since it was a puppy.
It was never allowed to wander around.
Apparently, the dog catchers had placed a noose around the dog, and when Law heard the commotion, he rushed out of his house and pleaded for it to be released.
“The dog catchers restrained the dog with the loop and pole and tried to drag it away, but Law held on to the pole, refusing to let go,’’ he said.
A struggle ensued, with the dog catchers also refusing to budge.
However, Law then collapsed and fell into a nearby drain.
An ambulance was called, but Law was pronounced dead by the paramedics who had tried to revive him.
As for the dog, Chan said, it was still at Law’s home, although its future was uncertain as Law’s children had returned to their respective homes in other states after the funeral.
Law’s son declined to speak to the media, saying that the family wanted to be left alone.
When contacted, Bentong Municipal Council’s Public Health Department head Norizam Saad said the council had made a police report on the matter.
He declined to elaborate, saying he was currently away attending a course and had not received full information regarding the incident. - The Star
METRO NEWS 11 Apr 2023
No action against dog catcher over incident with senior citizen, says MBPJ
By HARITH HISHAM and FARID WAHAB
Tuesday, 11 Apr 2023
3:23 PM MYT
Senior citizen lodges police report against MBPJ dog catchers
A SENIOR citizen has lodged a police report against the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) vector control unit, claiming that one of its officers had been rough towards him during a dog-catching operation.
In the report, lodged at the Brickfields district police headquarters on Friday (March 24), Patrick Khoo, 69, alleged that two MBPJ dog-catching unit enforcement officers came chasing after his pet dogs which he kept at his office at Taman Kanagapuram.
The dog owner tried to intervene and a tussle broke out during the incident at about 9pm on March 22.
Khoo alleged that the dog catcher had swiped the dog-catching loop he was holding against the left side of his (Khoo's) face, which had resulted in him suffering pain until now.
There are CCTV recordings of the incident, said Khoo.
When contacted, Khoo, who owns and manages a lubricant oil supply company, said the dog-catchers had taken away three adult dogs and a puppy.
According to Khoo, he had vaccinated and neutered the dogs he keeps at his office premises. - The Star
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