A returnee has revealed that the slaughtering of chickens and rams by individuals in their homes in Malaysia is an offence that attracts one-year jail term in the Asian country.

Speaking with the Guardian, Olajumoke Osafile, who recently returned to Nigeria from Malaysia, where she had spent close to 12 years, having left in February 2014, said there are too many stringent rules in the Asian nation.

“In Malaysia, they have a lot of difficult rules and regulations, one of which is that people are not permitted to kill chickens and even rams in their homes,” she said.

“If you do and you are caught by the security operatives, you will have to serve a one-year jail term, which is non-negotiable, whether by paying a fine or doing community service.”

When asked why the Malaysian authorities have banned people from killing domestic animals in their homes, Olajumoke said there is no cogent reason; however, most believe it is due to health-related reasons.

“Well, the Malaysian government has not given any reason for the ban, but most of the people over there believe that when slaughtering the animals, their blood always attracts flies and the likes, which the authorities feel is not hygienic enough for members of the public,” she explained.

Asked about how people consume chicken and ram in Malaysia, she revealed it must be purchased from the market or store after being slaughtered in designated abattoirs across the Asian nation.

“Obviously, it is not that we don’t eat such meat in Malaysia; the fact is that the government expects us to buy it, though, not to be killed at home, but slaughtered in government-approved abattoirs across the country,” she added.

Speaking further, she said that Malaysia is a country which is very proud of its culture and will do everything to protect it, leaving no room for people from other countries to impose their culture on its citizens.

As such, Olajumoke explained that despite the likes of Nigerian Afrobeats musicians, Davido, Wizkid, Olamide and Burna Boy making waves with their music and performing across the world, it is very difficult for them to penetrate the Malaysian market.

“The Malaysian government and even the citizens love their own a lot, and that’s talking about movies, actors and actresses, music and their artistes plus their culture, making it a tough one for the most popular Nigerian musicians to really hit the Malaysian market,” she said.

“Since I relocated to Malaysia in 2014, I haven’t seen the top musicians in Nigeria come here to perform at shows regularly like we hear them do in countries like the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK). This is due to the way the Malaysian system is built.

“Their system is not built for foreigners to thrive over the citizens. That is why foreigners pay more money than the citizens of the country, particularly when it comes to things like education and medical bills. It is also very difficult for foreigners to get jobs in Malaysia.”

On sports in the Asian country, Olajumoke, who is also a PHD holder, said the major sport in Malaysia is badminton.

“Actually, the major sport in Malaysia is badminton. Malaysians love badminton, and they will do everything within their power to promote the sport. They also like soccer, but not like the way Nigerians are die-hard football fans.”

Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. A federal constitutional monarchy, it consists of 13 states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two regions: Peninsular Malaysia on the Indochinese Peninsula and East Malaysia on the island of Borneo.

Kuala Lumpur is the country’s national capital, largest city, and the seat of the legislative branch of the federal government, while Putrajaya is the federal administrative capital, representing the seat of both the executive branch (the Cabinet, federal ministries, and federal agencies) and the judicial branch of the federal government. With a population of over 34 million, it is the world’s 42nd-most populous country.