KANGAR, May 29 — Perlis Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah is set to be questioned by police after a video clip showed him shooting a cow with a rifle during an Aidiladha sacrifice ceremony yesterday.
The footage, which has since spread widely on social media, sparked criticism online, with some questioning the use of a firearm during the korban ritual and whether it complied with religious procedures.
Abu Bakar admitted to shooting the cow but said did it to prevent anyone from getting hurt after the animal had broken loose.
“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,” he was quoted by news portal Free Malaysia Today as saying today.
The Perlis Bersatu chief also urged the public not to spread the news without knowing what had actually happened during the incident.
Kangar police chief Assistant Commissioner Yusharifuddin Mohd Yusop said investigations have started, Berita Harian reported this afternoon.
“The incident in the viral video is already within the knowledge of the police. So far, no police report has been received, but preliminary investigations are being carried out,” he was quoted as saying.
He said police are investigating the type of firearm and ammunition used, including whether live rounds were involved.
“We will summon the Menteri Besar to obtain a statement regarding this issue,” he added.
