BF Perlis MB defends shooting 'aggressive' cow during Aidiladha, cops launch probe
Perlis Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah has come under scrutiny after a video of him shooting a cow before the Aidiladha sacrificial ceremony on Wednesday went viral on social media.
He defended his action, reportedly claiming the cow became aggressive after breaking loose and that the decision to shoot it was made out of concern for the safety of those present.
“I didn’t shoot the cow for fun...
Perlis Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah has come under scrutiny after a video of him shooting a cow before the Aidiladha sacrificial ceremony on Wednesday went viral on social media.
He defended his action, reportedly claiming the cow became aggressive after breaking loose and that the decision to shoot it was made out of concern for the safety of those present.
“I didn’t shoot the cow for fun. It had become aggressive. If we had left it alone and it gored someone to death, who would be held responsible?
“Once it broke loose, we couldn’t do anything else. So I took the rifle and shot it in the leg. After it fell over, then we slaughtered it,” Free Malaysia Today reported him saying.
He also urged the public not to spread slander about the matter, stressing that the shot was fired at the animal’s leg, not its head.
In the viral video, Abu Bakar was seen firing at the cow with what appeared to be a shotgun.After the clip circulated widely, social media users also questioned the religious procedures for Aidiladha sacrifices.
According to Berita Harian, the police have launched a probe into the incident.
Kangar police chief Yusharifuddin Yusop said police were looking into the type of firearm and ammunition used, and that Abu Bakar is expected to be called in for a statement.
The incident comes amid reports of at least two cases of individuals being gored by sacrificial cattle during this year’s Aidiladha celebrations.
Both incidents occurred in Johor. One man was killed, and the other was injured.
