KUALA LUMPUR – The tragic death of a 19-month-old child at an Orang Asli settlement in Sungai Buloh was caused by a wild cat, not dogs, according to the village head, Juriah Kedong.
Her comments followed reports that the toddler, who was under the care of his uncle while his parents were at work, was found dead about 20 metres from their home in Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Buloh on July 22.
When the parents returned, they found the front gate open and their child missing. A frantic search led to the grim discovery of his body, surrounded by stray dogs.
Initial autopsy results indicated fatal neck injuries consistent with an animal attack. Following a report from a medical officer at Sungai Buloh Hospital, police launched an investigation.
Earlier, it was reported that the Sungai Buloh district police chief, Superintendent Rajesh Kumar, confirmed that the case is being treated as an animal attack, with claw marks and deep lacerations found on the victim that are inconsistent with a dog attack.
He added that forensic results are still pending.
Speaking to Scoop, Juriah asserted that the attack was likely carried out by either a black panther or a leopard, not dogs.
“I can say with confidence that the attack was done by either a black panther or a leopard. We frequently find their paw prints around our settlement, and these animals are prevalent in the area.
“Residents often hear loud growls at night, and it’s estimated that 40 to 50 of these animals inhabit the nearby forest,” she noted.
Juriah explained that the Orang Asli settlement, which consists of about 75 families and roughly 300 residents, is located just 20 metres from a dense forest reserve known to be a habitat for leopards and black panthers.
“As the village head, I have always advised residents to stay indoors at night. While there are stray dogs here, they have never been a real threat.
“The last similar incident occurred in the 1980s. We have coexisted with these wild cats for generations, and we are all devastated by this tragedy. My heart goes out to the family who lost their youngest child,” she said.
She also added that the Forestry Department and the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) recently installed four CCTV cameras around the settlement to monitor wildlife and prevent further attacks.
“We have raised concerns about our community’s safety in the past, but no action was taken until now. After this tragedy, the authorities finally responded. We need more than just cameras for protection.
“Even our MP, Datuk Seri Ramanan Ramakrishnan, has not visited us to offer support during this difficult time. We wonder if he is even aware of the situation.”
The Forestry Department is currently leading the investigation, which is expected to take about a month. Juriah stated that the entire village is anxiously awaiting the results.
“We hope measures will be implemented to prevent such incidents in the future. We want our children and families to feel safe at home.”
Meanwhile, the Veterinary Services Department (DVS) has also been assigned to identify and test local dogs for rabies, given their proximity to the boy’s body when it was found.
“While the issue of stray dogs is under local council jurisdiction, the Health Ministry informs us of any dog bite cases to monitor and control rabies infections. If any dogs test positive, surveillance will be conducted within a one- to five-kilometre radius,” the DVS stated.
A 19-year-old Orang Asli youth was briefly detained under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 to assist with the investigation. He has since been released, and police confirmed that his statement was recorded. — July 25, 2025