The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to keep their Road Traffic Act unchanged despite animal welfare activists’ constant requests to include more animals under the Act, TODAY reports. "It is not always safe for a motorist to stop his vehicle (like when he's travelling along a busy expressway) after hitting an animal,” explained a MHA spokesman. He did, however, add that anyone who hits an animal on the road should stop and assist the injured animal when it’s safe to do so.
An appeal to revise the Act was raised by activists in April 2013. The Ministry of National Development claimed it had agreed to all 24 recommendations put up by the Animal Welfare Legislation Review Committee – including Members of Parliament, community leaders and industry representatives.
One of the recommendations stated was to redefine the “animals” under the Road Traffic Act. According to the Animals and Birds Act, it states that any mammal (besides man) or fish is considered an “animal”.
Currently, a motorist who knocks down an ass, cattle, dog, goat, horse, mule, pig or sheep will face a $3,000 fine or jail term of up to a year. However, this isn’t the same for other commonly-seen animals such as birds, cats, monkeys and rabbits. Activists attribute this regulation to the former group covered under the Act being animals with farm value.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and Animals Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) have declared that they will be appealing against MHA’s choice.
ACRES founder Louis Ng said, “It would seem inconsistent that cruelty to a cat and other animals defined in the Animals and Birds Act is illegal, however, if you run over one, you do not need to stop to provide assistance. Both pieces of legislation should be in sync.”
Photo: Land Transport Authority Facebook
Read Also:
Parliament tables harsher laws against animal abusers
Tragic plight of monkey family in hit-and-run accident making rounds on social media
12 animal cafes in Singapore
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to keep their Road Traffic Act unchanged despite animal welfare activists’ constant requests to include more animals under the Act, TODAY reports. "It is not always safe for a motorist to stop his vehicle (like when he's travelling along a busy expressway) after hitting an animal,” explained a MHA spokesman. He did, however, add that anyone who hits an animal on the road should stop and assist the injured animal when it’s safe to do so.
An appeal to revise the Act was raised by activists in April 2013. The Ministry of National Development claimed it had agreed to all 24 recommendations put up by the Animal Welfare Legislation Review Committee – including Members of Parliament, community leaders and industry representatives.
One of the recommendations stated was to redefine the “animals” under the Road Traffic Act. According to the Animals and Birds Act, it states that any mammal (besides man) or fish is considered an “animal”.
Currently, a motorist who knocks down an ass, cattle, dog, goat, horse, mule, pig or sheep will face a $3,000 fine or jail term of up to a year. However, this isn’t the same for other commonly-seen animals such as birds, cats, monkeys and rabbits. Activists attribute this regulation to the former group covered under the Act being animals with farm value.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and Animals Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) have declared that they will be appealing against MHA’s choice.
ACRES founder Louis Ng said, “It would seem inconsistent that cruelty to a cat and other animals defined in the Animals and Birds Act is illegal, however, if you run over one, you do not need to stop to provide assistance. Both pieces of legislation should be in sync.”
Photo: Land Transport Authority Facebook
Read Also:
Parliament tables harsher laws against animal abusers
Tragic plight of monkey family in hit-and-run accident making rounds on social media
12 animal cafes in Singapore
