The video of the macaques lying motionless and one foaming in its mouth in its last throes of life have angered netizens and locals here alike, who have urged authorities to nab the culprit who laced the macaques’ bread with poison.

Sivakumaran Subramaniam, 49, was alerted by a woman who fed the monkeys three times a day by the hillside next to Grandview Apartments at about 6.30pm yesterday.

Officers from the wildlife and national parks (Perhilitan) have picked up the carcasses for sampling, he said.

“I have lived here for the past 40 years. I have seen these monkeys come down the hill to have some fruits and food left by one aunty daily and they would go back up to the hill.

“The monkeys are like our children. They have never caused any trouble, you can ask anyone here,” Sivakumaran said when contacted.

The security guard, who works at an adjacent condominium, said he had seen at least 50 monkeys living on top of Bukit Kukus, where they would descend a few times a day and would go back up after they were done eating.

He said the regular feeder of the monkey was so distraught that she dug a grave for the monkeys and said a prayer and laid flowers.

Northeast district police chief Soffian Santong said a police report was received and the matter was being looked at by Perhilitan. The department has been contacted for comment.