THE “truth telling” session that Muslim convert preacher Firdaus Wong Wai Hung organised about the killing of pet dog Rocky was one-sided as expected. It featured Muhammad Shah Hizam whose photo went viral as the alleged perpetrator.
He admitted to being at the scene but denied that he intended to harm Rocky. Is that true? Then Shah should have revealed who did the dastardly deed.
Yet many online already accused Rocky’s lady owner of killing her own beloved dog! This is really a heartless rubbing of salt into the wound.
As an online battle ensued between the pro-canine Rocky owner’s faction and those who believe in Shah’s innocence, Firdaus somehow “succeeded” in injecting a large racial “fear-dose” into the debate.
He posted “10 Facts” or rather “10 claims” from the media conference entitled #Justice4Shah which can be easily debunked.
CLAIM #1: Shah was a resident “invited” to help the Klang Royal City Council (MBDK) in an operation to catch stray dogs. About 50 “volunteers” were given a “taklimat” (briefing) on what to do. Shah was not a “vigilante”. He was an honourable resident who “sacrificed” his time to “serve the community”.
REBUTTAL: How could a few MBDK officers control 50 people in the night-time operation? Residents were angry over a recent stray dog incident and there was a high chance people could go overboard and yes, become “vigilantes”.
This looked like the wrong SOP (standard operating procedure) from the Council. Former DAP Klang MP Charles Santiago claimed that Rocky was allegedly beaten to death by a group of men.
“Reports allege that a rope was tightened around Rocky’s neck, causing it to choke, before it was beaten to death,” alleged Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth Communications director Neow Choo Seong (from MCA).
If true, this turned the operation into the “lynch mob justice” of cowboy movies.
Some claim this is justified as strays are a menace. Well, cats are also a menace as they enter gardens to deposit stinking poop that can cause disease. Can we go round lynching cats?
CLAIM #2: The dog catching operation was held after one young man went into a coma after being chased by strays in that area.
REBUTTAL: Yes, a youth was chased by several strays in that area. He lost control of his bike at a road bump and then crashed. He injured his head and went into a coma for over a week but has since recovered.
The residents’ photo of the youth on a hospital bed went viral and triggered anger. It was even re-published on the MBDK website.
This likely encouraged calls for revenge and there were initial online claims that Rocky had bitten someone to justify his killing.
When this accusation failed to hold up, the narrative turned to how Rocky was indirectly killed by its deemed owner or deserved to die because he had no license.
The youth was probably not wearing a helmet, resulting in a serious head injury. In addition, he clearly panicked.
The correct response is to stop, get off the bike and then look calmly at any strays – and they will back down. Strays are not fierce guard dogs like Rottweilers or Pit Bulls that are trained to attack intruders.
The deeper problem is the prejudice against dogs. Some Malays are told that dogs are unclean and children will taunt them, even throw rocks.
But dogs are clever, sensitive animals. Don’t blame them for reacting defensively against aggressive humans. In contrast, when strays are shown kindness, they will repay it with furry friendship, even love.
CLAIM #3: During the operation, 12 strays, including Rocky, were caught. Firdaus claimed this “clearly showed” that before Rocky’s death, the operation “went smoothly” without any problems.
REBUTTAL: MBDK’s own website admits, in English, “stray dog capture operation turns chaotic” but then twisted the blame against the lady owner.
Let’s say a dozen patients went for a routine hernia operation in hospital but one died due to a mistake. Does that mean everything “went smoothly”?
CLAIM #4: Rocky did not have a license.
LEGAL RESPONSE: The lawyers at the Bar Council contended that a piece of paper cannot justify killing.
The Animal Welfare Act 2015 makes it a crime for anyone to be violent or cruel towards an animal. It does NOT matter whether the animal is licensed or not.
This is the law that Firdaus and his supporters should learn.
CLAIM #5 and #6: Rocky’s neck was in the noose and alive while waiting for the MBDK vehicle to collect the dogs. Then a woman who claimed to be the owner arrived. She hugged and sat on Rocky to block the group from taking away her pet.
At that time there was “tarik-menarik” (‘tug-of-war’-like pulling) when matters became “tegang dan kelam-kabut” (tense and chaotic). This made it difficult to “control the situation” and remove the noose safely.
REBUTTAL: Exactly. By the volunteers’ own admission, MBDK lost control of the situation.
This is what’s REALLY tragic: Shah was allegedly the one holding the noose. WHY didn’t he let go when the Indian lady was on her knees, begging and wailing for Rocky’s life (as shown on a video)? WHY was no mercy shown by the group of men around her?
Would the mob have behaved the same way if a Mat Salleh in upscale Bangsar or Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur had come to claim his unlicensed dog? Was a different attitude shown because it was an Indian lady living in a not-so-wealthy area of Port Klang?
CLAIM #7, #8 and #9: A police report by the volunteers claimed the fracas tightened the noose, making it “difficult” for MBDK officers to release it. However, MBDK finally released the loop.
REBUTTAL: The facts in the police report contradict each other. Was the noose really so “difficult” to release as they claimed? If so, why is it that Council officers could open it up?
Did the residents lack the expertise to loosen the noose? Or were they content to let the dog suffocate? Or did someone hit Rocky?
CLAIM #10: After the incident, some parties spread a version of events that caused Shah to be harassed, abused and even threatened.
REBUTTAL: Abuse and threats are wrong. But Firdaus should also reflect how his own expose of a stocking at KK Mart led to fire-bombings against some outlets of the 24-hour convenience store.
It reeks of hypocrisy for him to denounce the same thing happening to Shah.
Conclusion
Can we please have more kindness and compassion? Islamic cities such as Istanbul, Teheran, Cairo, Rabat (Morocco) have moved from the Catch & Kill method of controlling stray dogs to the more humane Catch & Neuter approach.
The Queen of Selangor has also repeatedly urged local authorities to do this. On Aug 14, the Sultan of Selangor himself called on Muslims to always show compassion towards all animals, including strays and wildlife. – Aug 15, 2026
Former The Star environmental editor Andrew Sia is now a Malaysiakini columnist and political commentator.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
