Its minister, Nga Kor Ming, said the proposal for dog owners to obtain minimum liability insurance was commendable from the perspective of social responsibility.

“The proposal will be referred to the respective local authorities for their consideration,” he said in his winding-up speech for his ministry during the debate on the 2026 budget in the Dewan Rakyat today.

The proposal, made by Hasnizan Harun (PN-Hulu Selangor), is aimed at addressing the growing issue of dog attacks, whether involving stray or pet dogs.

Nga explained that the management and control of stray animals fell under the purview of local authorities, which were empowered to enforce by-laws against unlicensed animals or those found roaming freely in public spaces.

He also said that to ensure the effective management of stray animals, local authorities had adopted the TRRD (trap, reclaim, rehome and dispose) approach.

He said the ministry remained attentive to the issue of stray animals, including dogs and cats, as well as farm animals such as cows and buffaloes found wandering on roads and in public areas.

“These incidents have caused public nuisance, safety hazards, and affected community wellbeing,” he said.

In September, a six-year-old boy was injured after being bitten by a stray dog while riding a bicycle near his home at Batu 9 in Cheras, Selangor. The child suffered head injuries and was rushed to Kajang Hospital.

In April, the owner of two Rottweilers that attacked five people at Taman Desa Bidara in Kuala Ketil, Kedah, was fined a total of RM8,500 by the Baling magistrates’ court after pleading guilty to five charges of negligence.

The victims were reported to be planning legal action against the owner of the dogs, which were put down by the veterinary services department.