Animal Rights in Malaysia

Animal Rights in Malaysia

Author: Sheila Ramalingam
Publisher: UM Press
ISBN: 9789674884666
Pages: 369 p
Weight: 565 gm
Year: 2026
Price: RM65

This book seeks to explore the legal landscape of animal rights in Malaysia, a country rich in biodiversity but facing significant challenges in protecting its wildlife and domestic animals. It delves into the existing laws, policies, and international conventions that shape Malaysia’s approach to animal protection and conservation. Through a detailed analysis of existing legislation, policies, and international commitments, it asks: are we merely safeguarding animals from cruelty, or are we ready to recognise them as beings with rights of their own?

The answer to that question cannot be found in statutes alone. It lies, too, in the tapestry of beliefs, religions, customs, and cultural identities that shape how Malaysians view the animal world. Whether revered, feared, loved, or ignored, animals occupy different spaces in our collective consciousness. And so, this book also reflects on the moral and spiritual undercurrents that inform legal approaches, from wildlife conservation to the ethical dilemmas of zoos, from marine biodiversity to the use of animals in research.