Koh Tat Meng was charged under Section 186 of the Penal Code with obstructing a public servant in the discharge of his public functions outside the Vista Millennium condominium in Puchong, Selangor.
The charge carries a maximum jail term of two years, a maximum fine of RM10,000, or both.
Magistrate M Barath allowed Koh bail of RM1,000 and set Nov 26 for the next mention.
Koh, who was accompanied by his wife Diong Mei Li, was represented by lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan.
Rajesh later told FMT that his client had merely pleaded for mercy for the dog.
“If you watch the video, it was the MPSJ officials who treated the dog cruelly,” he added.
A video of the incident taken by Diong which went viral on social media showed several MPSJ officers trying to capture the dog while Koh attempted to intervene.
An officer pinned Koh against a car after he made several mentions of Prophet Muhammad’s name.
Koh later said he had not intended to insult Islam but was merely asking the MPSJ personnel to show compassion towards the dog.
The Selangor government expressed regret over the officers’ behaviour but said procedures must be followed to ensure the well-being of animals and the safety of personnel.
The case also caught the attention of the Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor, Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, who voiced regret over the way the dog was treated.
Rajesh said the police had yet to investigate the officers even though Koh lodged a report on the matter last week.
He also said Koh had called them numerous times, offering to give his statement, but that the police had declined.
He likewise questioned the lack of action by MPSJ president Noraini Roslan and Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, urging the former to resign from her post.
“Did the attorney-general see the fact that my client was assaulted? Is he aware that the MPSJ personnel did not follow the standard operating procedure and yet my client has been charged while the officials who perpetrated this brutal and heinous act walk free?”
He also slammed the Malaysian National Animal Welfare Board for its silence on the issue, questioning its competence to advocate animal rights in the country.
Representatives from animal rights societies and members of the public were also present to show their support for Koh, holding up placards reading “MPSJ is cruel”, “Justice for Bruno Puchong” and “Step down, MPSJ president”.