SHAH ALAM, April 2 — The issue of uncontrolled stray dogs is increasingly seen as a serious threat to children’s safety, prompting calls for immediate and firmer action, including from local authorities.
Kajang state assemblyman David Cheong said the problem is no longer an isolated complaint, but has persisted for years without an effective solution despite being repeatedly raised in state assembly sittings and meetings with the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj).
“This issue has been ongoing for a long time. There have been cases of people falling, accidents, and even deaths. Children have also been bitten. This is no longer a small matter as it involves public safety.
“Residents face risks every day, especially in areas with a high number of strays,” he told Media Selangor.
He said among the serious incidents was a fatal accident involving an elderly motorcyclist who was believed to have tried to avoid a dog before being hit by a lorry.
According to him, one of the main constraints frequently raised is the lack of placement centres for captured dogs, resulting in inconsistent action and failure to resolve the issue comprehensively.
“The common excuse is that there is no placement centre. Some dogs are sedated and put down, while others are neutered and released. This is neither a long-term nor a humane solution,” he said.
He proposed setting up temporary designated areas such as idle land or forested zones to house stray dogs in a controlled environment for a certain period.
“We can identify unused land and utilise it for five to seven years. Build fenced areas, separate male and female dogs, feed them and allow them to live in a controlled setting until the end of their natural lifespan,” he explained.
He added that the approach aligns with the call by the Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor, Tengku Permaisuri Hajah Norashikin, for stray animals to be managed more humanely and not killed indiscriminately.
He also revealed that a meeting was held on February 26 with MPKj president Nazli Md Taib and heads of relevant agencies to discuss solutions, including outsourcing dog-catching operations.
“It is understood that dog-catching work has now been outsourced at a cost of about RM100 per animal. However, I have given a two- to three-month period to assess the effectiveness of this measure,” he said.
However, he stressed that so far there has been no visible impact in reducing the stray dog population in affected areas.
“The problem persists. We still see dogs roaming daily,” he said.
According to him, among the worst-affected areas are Sungai Long, Saujana Impian, Sekamat and Bukit Dukung, as well as several other locations such as Sungai Kantan.
“In Sungai Long, the number can reach dozens in a single area. In other places, although the numbers may be lower, the daily presence of stray dogs continues to cause concern among residents,” he said.
He urged more serious and immediate action to ensure public safety, particularly to protect children, while safeguarding animal welfare.
