Al Adib Samuri, children’s commissioner at the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), said intervention is a more appropriate step than punishment for the two children who allegedly abused a cat in Dungun.
Meanwhile, child and adolescent psychiatrist Wong Yim Chan said that for children under age 10, accountability should focus on learning.
A video clip showing two children, one tugging a string tied to the neck of a cat and the other hitting the animal with a slipper, has gone viral on social media.
In response to the more than 300 complaints it has received, the Terengganu veterinary services department launched an investigation under the Animal Welfare Act 2015 on March 31.
Al Adib described the incident as an “early warning sign”, and cautioned that failure to address such behaviour could lead to more serious problems in the future.
“(But to act on such behaviour) the more appropriate response is not punishment but intervention,” he told FMT.
“This should include psychological and behavioural assessments, counselling, family support, and structured guidance to address underlying issues,” he said.
In any case, Al Adib pointed out, under Section 82 of the Penal Code, children below the age of 10 cannot be held legally accountable for their actions. “Therefore, they cannot be prosecuted the same way as adults,” he said.
“The law presumes that a child under 10 cannot understand the consequences of his actions,” he noted.
Wong said that for children in such cases, accountability should focus on education.
“Holding children accountable is not about punishment, but about teaching them responsibility and helping them understand the link between actions and consequences,” he said.
Wong said children may not fully understand the impact of their actions, making early guidance and intervention essential.
He recommended gentle conversations for children below 10 to encourage compassion towards animals, along with measures such as temporary loss of privileges.
Wong said older children would require a more structured process. “They must be taught to understand the impact of their actions, followed by therapy to build empathy or address anger issues, alongside the loss of certain privileges,” he said.
He added that children involved in such incidents should also be diagnosed for underlying issues and supported through therapy to develop empathy and healthier coping mechanisms.