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SPCA files Police Report in Sabah
Monday, April 7th, 2008
by Peter Ibrahim Abisheganaden
Twenty-three months after allegations of horse abuse at Melinsung Ranch first surfaced, SPCA Selangor is still seeking justice. It has now filed a police report in Sabah.
Allegations of cruelty first surfaced in June 2006 about Col. Dato’ Abdul Ghani Rashid’s Melinsung Ranch in Papar, Sabah. Dato’ Ghani is a former mayor of Kota Kinabalu and was once an avid endurance rider. A year later a British Tourist, Dr Chris Jones, complained to authorities in Sabah and Kuala Lumpur, and created a website in June 2007. Shocking photos surfaced (see photos above and right) showing horses in utterly deplorable condition, some kept in barbed-wire stables.
This brought the issue to the attention of the equestrian and especially endurance communities. Concerned members of the public voiced their shock and horror on many website forums and bulletin boards in Malaysia, Australia and other countries around the world. Newspapers in Malaysia then picked up the story.
In July 2007 SPCA Selangor issued a press release. It reported that on 22 June 2007, SPCA received a report from a tourist in Sabah who was disgusted with the situation at Melingsung Ranch (the “Ranch”) in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The report cited the “dreadful” condition of the horses and noted that the:
“Horses [were] held in barbed wire protected stalls to prevent escape. Dead horses lie for days before being dumped on a nearby PUBLIC beach – not even buried – simply left to rot with all the disease and health risks this incurs.”
No charges were ever filed against the owners of the ranch, nor were horses confiscated. Instead, some feed was provided, and help was provided to enable the owner to sell some of these horses.
Despite the attention of the media and international animal welfare watchdogs, it has been alleged that the abuse continued. In an effort to bring diplomatic pressure to bear, SPCA Selangor wrote to the Australian High Commissioner in March 2008 as many of the horses at Melinsung were Australian bred.
An animal welfare organisation made a report in December 2007. Two independent animal welfare organisations and an independent vet have made reports on this situation in January and March 2008 when they inspected Melinsung Ranch.
The World Society for the Protection of Animals visited in March 2008. From what was reportedly 70 horses at Melinsung Ranch in June 2007, there were now 37 horses still there. WSPA’s report stated that 80% of the horses there have a poor body condition probably due to chronic malnutrition.
However, on 1st April, the New Straits Times published an article stating that the Department of Veterinary Services, Sabah, had cleared the Melinsung Ranch. Its director, Datuk Awang Sahak Salleh declared the case closed.
In response, Selangor SPCA issued its own press release. “Shocked and angered by the statements made by Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Sabah Director Datuk Awang Sahak Salleh, local animal welfare association SPCA Selangor is taking a firm stand to seek justice for the atrociously neglected horses of Melingsung Ranch, Kota Kinabalu – by pushing for the confiscation of all the horses and swift prosecution of the Ranch’s owner. “Contrary to what Datuk Awang has said in the report in the New Straits Times yesterday - that the horses are in acceptable living conditions and “rumors and allegations” of neglect made by eyewitnesses are untrue and baseless, we have factual photographic evidence documented and collated by SPCA Selangor and the World Society For The Protection of Animals (WSPA),” says SPCA Chairperson Christine Chin.
In the press release, WSPA's Dawn Peacock is quoted, “I read with disbelief the report in the NST yesterday – how could DVS Sabah possibly conclude that the horses are in a satisfactory condition, and let the ranch owner off the hook when all evidence shows the contrary? ” said Peacock. “The Government’s job is to enforce the Law guiding such use of animals and ensuring the animals wellbeing. In this case the enforcement role has failed – the horses are paying the price for this failing with their lives and continued suffering,” she continued.
The Selangor SPCA blog then reported that they would file a police report in KK. “…we are going to KK specifically to file a formal complaint that is our sole purpose of the trip. SPCA and WSPA are consulted by world animal and animal sport organizations for our involvement in and unbiased feedback on animal welfare in this region of Malaysia & internationally. On this occasion, we would be compelled to apprise them of the conditions which we have faced in Sabah. We will be brutally honest about our findings and if this jeopardizes tourism to the State of Sabah, then this would be the ancillary effect - and not our main intention – we are ONLY interested in bringing offenders to book. We do not oppose the State of Sabah, their organs of state or the people of Sabah but merely keep insisting on the proper administration and enforcement of animal welfare and nor are we advocating the boycott of Sabah Tourism.”
The police report was filed in Keremunsing, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, on Saturday 5th April by SPCA Selangor’s Equine Welfare Officer Quek Sue Yian.
A source in the
Equestrian Association of Malaysia (EAM) has said the EAM has received many
e-mails on this subject. Pressure has been exerted on the EAM as
Malaysia is set to host the World Endurance Championships in November
2008. Similarly the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), the world
governing body of equestrian sport, is said to have received e-mails from all over the world. The EAM is
now said to be concerned with the situation, especially as HRH Princess Haya, President of the FEI, and Alex McLin, Secretary-General, have been invited to visit
Malaysia in May 2008. While Kota Kinabalu is not on their Malaysian itinerary, the subject is
sure to be brought up, much to the embarrassment of the EAM.
by Peter Ibrahim Abisheganaden
This brought the issue to the attention of the equestrian and especially endurance communities. Concerned members of the public voiced their shock and horror on many website forums and bulletin boards in Malaysia, Australia and other countries around the world. Newspapers in Malaysia then picked up the story. 
“Horses [were] held in barbed wire protected stalls to prevent escape. Dead horses lie for days before being dumped on a nearby PUBLIC beach – not even buried – simply left to rot with all the disease and health risks this incurs.”