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 Faces
of Shame - for Chinese
New Year 2011
The Chinese believe at all
times, we should be celebrating the New Year with festive revelries,
exchanging of gifts and auspicious greetings.
This year, Pods & Petals
Giftlab wishes to make a little exception. Yes, we will still
be delivering good tidings to family members, friends and
associates. At the same time, we would like to do our part in
creating awareness of abuses that may be going on in the homes of
our fellow Malaysians.
Violence, cruelty and
abuses can happen to anyone at any time even during this Chinese New
Year. Just before the Lunar New Year begins, there are already
several cases of appalling abuses.
Legislation against
domestic violence, child abuses and the like are in place to ensure
that children and the vulnerable are protected and the villains are
punished severely to deter occurrences. Legislation such as The
Malaysia Child Act 2001 and the Domestic Violence Act 1994
illustrate that it’s always a continuing crusade to ensure the laws
are sufficient to protect the victims.
Laws against animal
cruelty is however a different story. With a maximum of a
paltry RM200 fine or a maximum jail term of 6 months, The Animal
Ordinance dated back in 1953, is a little less than a mere slap on
the wrist. Although the number of cases of cruelty to animals and
abuses are more than a hundred fold compared to child abuse
or domestic violence, only three cases of abusers, received jail
sentences in lieu of payment since 1953 and that too were not
more than 2 days.
In January 2007, a
total of 83,000 signatures were collected nationwide for the
case of
7 year old
Sheena, a German Shepherd. Sheena
was so severely abused by her owner that she has to be put down
immediately upon rescue to end her sufferings. Despite the public
outcry, all the dins and that the petition was handed directly to
the Prime Minister Department, the petition was conveniently
passed off as another trifling affair unworthy of the government’s
time and consideration. The abuser,
Lien Chong San,
an engineer, from Subang Jaya, got off smiling with only
a RM100 fine.
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Lien Chong San from USJ -
owner of
Sheena, who was left
to die after years of abuse. After 83,000 signatures collected
nationwide, petition sent to the PM's Dept and months of work by
animal lovers and public outcry, Lien was slapped with a paltry
fine of RM100 in 2007. |
Barely a month into
2011, several major animal cruelty cases again were reported.
Sushi’s case happened to be reported because a video was
leaked out in the internet.
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| Allan and
Doreen.
Sushi, a young brown
poodle, was punched, kicked, thrown around, strangled, and
slammed against the wall because her stand wasn’t good enough
for the abuser. The 15 minute video clip was found and got
circulated in the internet. |
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| Doreen, the
owner of
Sushi, the brown
poodle. She watched, video taped and probably participated in
the abuse. |
However, there’re many
more abuse cases that go unreported. Among others is the case of
Handsome,
which died an agonizing death at the hands of his cruel owner in
Lebuh Jelutong, Taman Selatan, Klang.
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| Family of the
owner.
Handsome was caged
24/7, not fed, and kept being hosed down every time he makes a
ruckus trying to get out. And when he looks dying and fearing
its dead body is going to soil their beautiful home in Lebuh
Jelutong, Taman Selatan, Klang, his body was dumped right
outside their house. When he was found, his lungs were filled
with liquid due to being hosed down repeatedly and ants were all
over him. He died an agonizing death several hours after he was
brought to the vet by some good Samaritans. The family is
celebrating CNY as usual. |
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Owner of Handsome. Check
here for more
information. |
These cases are brought to
light because some Malaysians care enough to voice out their
concerns. Although we know well that the people in the pictures
below will still be walking free and the penalty imposed by our
archaic Malaysian Law that awaits them is only a mere RM200 fine
(if they are ever convicted), it’s inspiring to know thousands of
caring Malaysians are trying to do their in creating the much
needed awareness.
Yes, until our
politicians and policy makers are willing to take an interest in
the welfare of the voiceless, it’s up to the concerned public to
perform their moral obligation. It doesn’t matter if you are
an animal lover or you are not, it takes very little time to
spread a little kindness. Abuses whether it’s towards another
human being or animal, are not right and should not be condoned.
What the Malaysian
government fails to address in the very basic principle of
rights and moral decency underlying our country’s rules, it does
not means we should too. Make our stands even when our Leaders do
not. Let our children know if we human can’t treat animals with
a little moral decency, we will not be in a capacity to be able to
treat other fellow humans with equal civility.
This New Year of the
Rabbit, spread a little kindness by not condoning cruelty.
Educate the young on the sanctity of lives, human or not.
Don’t bring home a live rabbit to accessorize your home if you
know you will abandon it after the New Year. Let your neighbours
know you care and you are not meddlesome.
J Just that you
do not tolerate cruelty and you do not wish your children
to witness unkindness in the neighbourhood.
If you know of any
abusers, spread the news and let the faces be known to the
public. Shame may possibly work more effectively than our
Malaysian Law in sending the message across. So, as we visit family
and friends and attend reunion during this Chinese New Year, let
these faces be part of our table discourse.
Last but not least, we
wishes you a very Happy Rabbity New Year 2011. May you and family
have a meaningful Year ahead.
From all of us @ Pods &
Petals Giftlab
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