Kitten reportedly put in container now adopted, probe underway
A kitten that was allegedly stuffed into a plastic container and rolled around in Tuas has been adopted, the National Parks Board (NParks) said.
In an updated statement yesterday, the board said it is 'investigating the incident thoroughly, and appropriate action will be taken if any wrongdoing is established'.
'We have visited the premises and are in contact with the relevant persons. We were informed that the cat has since been adopted, and we will be checking on its well-being,' said NParks' group director for enforcement and investigation Jessica Kwok in a statement.
'We thank SPCA Singapore for alerting us to this case.'
The incident took place in a workers' canteen at Tech Park Crescent in Tuas on the night of March 26, between 9.45pm and 10.30pm, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said in a June 23 Facebook post on the incident.
An informant, a colleague of the suspected abuser, told SPCA that the kitten had been placed inside a plastic container and rolled around repeatedly.
SPCA's inspectors conducted an unannounced inspection on April 1, during which they were told that the cat had since been released as it was a community animal, the organisation added in the Facebook post.
SPCA was also told that the worker involved was given a stern warning.
However, a manager there declined to show any CCTV footage or facilitate further investigation, said SPCA, prompting it to refer the matter to the Animal and Veterinary Service – a cluster within NParks.
In a statement on Thursday, NParks said it had been alerted to the incident and was looking into the matter.
According to SPCA's statistics, 220 of 453 reported animal abuse cases in 2024 involved cats, making them the most frequently abused animal species in Singapore.
The types of abuse include physical harm, inhumane trapping, hit-and-run incidents, intentional injury or killing, the use of aversive training methods and abandonment. — The Straits Times/ANN
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
8 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Zahid: Immediate aid for fire victims in Bagan Datuk
KUALA LUMPUR: Immediate assistance will be channelled to all victims of the fire that destroyed 23 houses and premises in Kampung Bagan Pasir Laut, Hutan Melintang, Bagan Datuk, early this morning. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he had been informed of the incident, and officers from his office had immediately gone to the ground to meet all the affected families. "God willing, immediate assistance will be channelled, and each victim will be given the attention and support they deserve," he said in a Facebook post today. Zahid, who is also Bagan Datuk member of parliament, expressed his deepest appreciation to all parties involved, especially the fire brigade, security personnel, and volunteers, for their efforts in the rescue and firefighting operations. "The swift action and spirit of togetherness shown are greatly appreciated. My prayers are with all the victims. May they be given strength and fortitude in facing this difficult ordeal," he said. In the 4.30am incident, a total of 23 premises were destroyed, involving 19 Class B and C houses, each estimated to have an area of 92.9 square metres, a non-Muslim house of worship, two eateries, and a retail shop. However, no casualties were reported. The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department's forensic team is still conducting further investigations to determine the cause of the incident.
The Sun
15 hours ago
- The Sun
Only platform providers can block social media content, says Fahmi
KUALA LUMPUR: Only social media platform providers have the authority to block or remove content and accounts, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said today. The government cannot instruct platforms to take such actions unless the content violates the law. 'When content or an account is blocked, it means the platform acknowledges the breach of existing laws,' Fahmi said during a press conference after launching the Nadi Aspirasi Nasional Bersama Anak Muda (NANBA) programme. From January 1 to June 27, social media platforms removed 173,642 pieces of content. Over 90,000 (51%) involved online gambling, while more than 43,000 were scam-related. The rest were linked to other illegal activities. Facebook had the highest number of gambling and scam ads, followed by TikTok. Telegram was the weakest in handling scam content, removing only half of flagged posts. 'Telegram representatives will meet MCMC this week to discuss scams, gambling, child exploitation, and copyright violations,' Fahmi said. He noted Telegram's small team of around 50 staff managing over a billion users. The NANBA programme, meaning 'friend' in Tamil, strengthens government engagement with the Indian community, especially youth. It enhances two-way communication on policies, initiatives, and opportunities.
New Straits Times
16 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Nation records 188,528 complaints involving social media platforms logged within 6 months
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 188,528 complaints involving various social media platforms were logged between Jan 1 and June 26, with online gambling making up more than half of all takedown requests. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said out of the total, 173,642 resulted in content removals or account restrictions. "Online gambling led the category with 96,240 complaints and 90,770 takedowns, followed by scam-related content with 45,933 complaints and 43,865 takedowns. "Bullying and harassment saw 24,283 complaints, with 19,440 removals, while 74 reports were lodged over obscene content involving children, leading to 21 takedowns," he said in a press conference after attending the Nadi Aspirasi Nasional Bersama Anak Muda (Nanba) Programme at IWK Eco Park here. Fahmi said these figures highlighted the severity of content abuse on digital platforms and the need for stronger cooperation between Malaysian authorities and platform providers. He also confirmed that Telegram representatives were scheduled to meet with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) here soon to discuss enforcement issues. Among the issues to be highlighted in the meeting are online scams, gambling, child sexual abuse materials, pornography and copyright infringement. "Telegram has about a billion users worldwide but only around 50 employees. They rely heavily on artificial intelligence (AI) and automation to moderate content. However, he said legal differences across countries had made enforcement difficult, citing online gambling as an example. "In Malaysia, online gambling is illegal, but in countries like Vietnam it may be allowed. "This makes compliance inconsistent, and that's why discussions with Telegram is important to ensure it follows our laws." He stressed that only the platform itself had the authority to block or remove any content or account. "If the platform does not agree (with a takedown request), unfortunately no action can be taken. "But when content is removed, it means the platform recognises it violates our laws," he said. Fahmi singled out Facebook as the leading platform for online gambling advertisements, calling it the "biggest offender", followed by widespread scam activity on both Facebook and TikTok. "This is not just about Telegram. Every platform is being misused differently by bad actors. The MCMC continues to take strong and comprehensive action against such abuses," he added.
