Govt seeks to appeal defeat in dusky leaf monkey culling suit

2026-03-26 - 06:30

Perhilitan denied culling 20 monkeys at Taman Raja Zainal, Port Dickson, on May 19, 2021. (Envato Elements pic) PETALING JAYA: The government has filed an application for leave to appeal a Court of Appeal ruling that held the wildlife and national parks department (Perhilitan) liable for the killing of dusky leaf monkeys in Port Dickson five years ago. The government and Perhilitan want the apex court to hear their appeal to set aside the decision handed down by the lower court on Feb 26. They also proposed two questions of law to be determined by the court touching on the statutory duties of Perhilitan officers under the Wildlife Conservation Act, if leave is granted. Last month, the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of animal rights group Hak Asasi Hidupan Liar Malaysia and activist Nurul Azreen Sultan in their lawsuit against Perhilitan and the government. The appellate court ruled that the High Court had erred in finding that the Perhilitan officers were legally justified in killing the monkeys based on a perceived threat. The court held that even if one dusky leaf monkey had posed a threat, it was wholly disproportionate and unlawful to eliminate the entire group. Perhilitan had denied culling 20 monkeys at Taman Raja Zainal, Port Dickson, on May 19, 2021, saying it only killed seven aggressive monkeys that frequently disturbed residents in the area. It said its officials were forced to kill the monkeys after attempts to capture the animals failed.