An 85-year-old man named Huang Yunhong tragically lost his life in Pahang when he fell into a drain while attempting to protect his beloved pet from dog catchers employed by the Bentong Municipal Council (MPB).
The incident occurred on Wednesday (May 24), when the enforcement officers arrived at Huang’s residence in Taman Saga, Bentong, with the intention of taking away his dog.
According to a report by Sin Chew, Huang, determined to prevent the officers from taking his furry companion, engaged in a negotiation with the dog catchers after they captured his pet. Desperate to hold onto the catch pole and prevent their departure, Huang found himself in a struggle with the authorities.
Ah Xing, one of Huang’s neighbors, recounted the events and revealed that he pleaded with one of the officers to release the pole in order to prevent Huang from falling. Unfortunately, the officer disregarded the plea, and tragedy struck.
During the altercation, Huang suddenly collapsed and fell into a nearby drain. Ah Xing rushed to his aid, but regrettably, Huang passed away within minutes. The deceased had cared for the dog for numerous years and lived alone, as his children resided in Kuala Lumpur.
Following this heartbreaking incident, Young Syefura Othman, the member of parliament (MP) for Bentong, urged the Ministry of Local Government Development to establish explicit guidelines for dog-catching operations.
Syefura emphasized the importance of preventing untoward incidents and misunderstandings that could escalate into even more dire situations and conflicts between enforcement officers and residents or individuals who care for stray dogs.
In a Facebook post, she expressed her condolences to Huang’s family but refrained from commenting further on the incident itself.
Other news reports also revealed that prior to the tragic accident, Huang had been indoors but ventured outside his house after realizing that the enforcement team had apprehended his pet dog at around 5pm.
In March, an elderly man was also roughed up for the same reason by the officers from Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).
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