KUALA LUMPUR: The shocking video of two men throwing a dog into a pothole, to his eventual death, shocked Malaysia. Now, an animal rights group is demanding that the university where the alleged students attend take action against to ensure animal welfare is upheld. Animal Action Group has sent a letter to Malaysia's Multimedia University (MMU) asking its head of corporate communications Abdul Lazi Nordin to take action so that the incident does not “give Malaysia a bad name.” Last week, a horrific video began making its rounds that showed two men, allegedly students at MMU, murdering a dog by throwing the animal into a pothole. Sharul Nizam Rahim, Animal Action Group's director, said the incident must not be repeated and called for action to protect the country's animals. He said Malaysia was also named as an animal abuser country. “We want MMU and the police to conduct a thorough investigation into this matter and take appropriate action against the students. “I know our group is very small, but we are here to seek justice for animals. They are also living creatures. “Most of us here are also Muslims, and our religion does not teach us to abuse animals, including dogs,” Rahim said in comments published by local media. According to the Jordanian student, who was the pet's owner, he had allowed the two men to care for his companion while he was on vacation. “I went back to Jordan on June 24. My housemate's friend, a Somali student, offered to care for my dog Kanilla for a month," said the 19-year-old in comments published by AsiaOne.com, adding that the female dog was a cross between a Pitt Bull and a Dalmatian. According to the student, On July 19, the owner was shocked when he received a message from the Somali student claiming that Kanilla had run away. Further distress awaited the owner when he came back to Malaysia on July 26. “My housemate showed me a video of the Somali student and another person throwing Kanilla into a manhole in Cyberjaya," he said. The Jordanian lodged a police report at the Cyberjaya police station on July 31 with help from the Selangor Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). “Cruelty comes in many forms but this is particularly very shocking," said SPCA chairman Christine Chin. “I urge the authorities to take the necessary action and to make a stand that animal abuse would not be tolerated in Malaysia." Animal rights activists in Malaysia have long called on the government to do more to ensure that animals are treated with respect in the country. The government is looking to pass new legislation to bolster penalties against animal cruelty. “I am shocked and don't know what to say," began animal lover and activist Yussif Mahammad, who told Bikyamasr.com that he hoped the police will do all they can to arrest the criminals. “This could be a positive step in the right direction if the new measures are passed, but it is up to the police and courts to make certain the criminals are penalized and punished," added Mahammad.
