Justice for all

What a marvellous week last week turned out to be!

For one thing, I found myself howling with delight with animal lovers across the country over the passing of our nation's Animal Welfare Act 2015.

It transpired in Parliament in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.

I watched the two-day “live” proceedings on the Internet from my home while some of my animal activist colleagues chose to turn up in Parliament to show their support.

Although the bill took more than 10 years in coming, it was well worth the wait in the end.   

Animal abusers in the country now face the possibility of being slapped with a minimum fine of RM20,000 to a maximum RM100,000 liability – or a three-year-jail term, or both.   

The new law promises to add a significant bite to those who previously had got away with acts of animal cruelty and neglect.

These include breeders, pet shops, farms and even slaughterhouses that do not follow proper ethics in the licensing of their businesses.

It is not uncommon, for instance, for dog breeders to operate from their homes and keep the animals in tiny cages all day.

Local councils will also not be spared.

Those that make it a practice to shoot and kill stray dogs in reducing the number of strays will now have to find humane methods in their management of unwanted animals.

Local councils that breach this ban will face the full force of the Animal Bill law.

They will now be forced to abandon "knee-jerk" or "quick-fix" reactions to try and solve the stray problems.

They will instead now have to come up with long-term measures such as establishing a well-managed animal pound and engaging in pet-education programmes with local residents to manage canine problems in the environment. 

In a rare scene, it was interesting to watch both sides of the political divide in Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat come together to agree on the Animal Welfare Bill.

Some of the parliamentarians even took the opportunity to deliver impassioned speeches about the need to protect the welfare of animals in our country that "frequently don't have a voice to speak up for themselves."

One of them gave a lengthy argument defending the dog as "a creature created by God."

Another lawmaker took time to highlight the easy availability of exotic pets in our country without people realising the responsibilities that come along with it.

She also expressed her unhappiness about how young children were becoming unwary targets for such pets without being given the proper guidance from pet stores and parents on how to look after them.

Coincidentally, RTM's TraxxFM broadcast on radio also ran a “live” talk show on responsible pet ownership on Wednesday.

Together with a couple of other animal welfare NGOs, I was an invited guest on the programme. It was hosted by international award-winning broadcaster Philomena Gnanapragasam.

Padang Serai MP N. Surendran, who debated extensively on the Animal Welfare Bill in Parliament, appeared for a few minutes as a "live" call-in feature.

He stressed that the efficacy of the legislature could only be measured once it was enforced and had successfully brought offenders to the book.

Abandoned animals – especially when pets grow older – was also discussed on TraxxFM.

The representatives of the NGO stressed the importance of owners caring for their animals right to the very end.      

A veterinarian was also a guest on the show. He confessed how difficult it was for him to meet clients who didn't really care for their pets, but only brought them to the clinic when things got bad.

My only disappointment with the TraxxFM show was that there wasn't enough time to discuss the role of euthanasia in elderly animals – when the time is right to put our beloved pets to sleep.

Since there was an animal doctor around, it would have been an ideal and educational topic to discuss.

Finally, my week ended with roaring dinosaurs all around me when I caught Jurassic World at the Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) in Mid Valley Megamall on Friday.

Although I had great fun watching the gigantic terrible lizards in action, I must say several things at the movie left me feeling very short-changed.

I was disappointed with the two seats allocated for wheelchair users. They was located right at the entrance of the movie theatre next to the doors.

I can't tell you how many times I was irritated by people walking in and out during the movie. They also blocked my view of the giant screen each time they walked by to the restroom or for-God-knows-what.

And all that was done with the "special reserved seats" is that the regular ones in the cinema were removed. There were no markings or anything to indicate that the spot was reserved for wheelchairs like they do in overseas cinemas.

There was also no popcorn or cup holder for wheelchair patrons to place our drinks and food in.

My able-bodied friend who accompanied me was forced to sit in a seat in front of me. This took all the fun out of us going to the movies together.

I was completely cut off from him as a result, from the time the show started until it ended.

I can't imagine something like this happening with able-bodied patrons who go to watch a movie together.

It would be good if GSC provided some form of alternative seating when wheelchair users watch movies with their able-bodied friends.

Finally, while the rest of the movie-goers could enter the hall from the main entrance, I had to be wheeled in through a separate entrance which didn't make me feel dignified at all as a patron of GSC.

What I didn't understand is why these corrections were not already put in place, especially as GSC is currently in the process of making improvements by shifting to a higher floor.           

The back entrance, for instance, was a long and winding one. It involved taking another lift.

I was wheeled through some rough pavement that wasn't properly patched up. I even came across an unnoticeable slight step that could topple a person in a wheelchair.

The pathway – through unpainted walls – had no covers for the ceiling. You could see wires and cables hanging above you which  contributed to a rather eerie feeling both before and after the movie.

I mean, for all I know, one of those walls could have had a badass Tyrannosaurus Rex just waiting to pop up from behind it and eat us up.

And to think that my friend and I paid the full amount for the tickets just like the other cinema-goers!

I feel like screaming like a dinosaur now. – June 22, 2015.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.