GEORGE TOWN: Twelve animal rights bodies will be taking legal action against the Kulim Kedah Municipal Council (MPKK) for the inhumane killing of strays caught in Kulim.

       Save a Stray Malaysia founder Jacqueline Tsang, one of the representatives of the 12 NGOs, said they secured the pro bono services of Lawyers for Animal Rights.

       “The NGO will help us file charges against the municipality.

       “We will be submitting to file a charge for illegal killing at 2pm on Tuesday,” she said yesterday.

       Earlier, a video showing MPKK workers torturing a dog during an operation to catch strays at the Taman Tiram housing area in Kulim went viral.

       Kedah state police have since begun investigations into the alleged cruelty after two reports were lodged.

       State police chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat reportedly said an investigation paper has been opened under Section 428 of the Penal Code for committing mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless any animal, which provides for imprisonment of up to three years or a fine or both, if convicted.

       He said police were still in the midst of investigations to determine the laws and standard operating procedure in dealing with stray and feral dogs.