Animal Rights Group Urges Vegan Meals at Malaysian Prison Holding Former Prime Minister

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter on Tuesday to Kajang Prison Director Mohd Sharin bin Hj Sabtu requesting that the facility serve vegan meals to former prime minister Najib Razak and other inmates. The organization said a vegan policy could lower food costs, improve inmate health, and promote empathy and non-violence inside the prison.

Malaysian prison regulations do not set a fixed menu.

The First Schedule of the Prisons Regulations 2000 lists a ration scale that includes rice, vegetables, chicken, fish, meat, tofu, eggs, fruit, bread, tea, and coffee.

"Even former Prime Minister Najib Razak deserves humane, healthy meals, and so does every prisoner," Jason Baker, president of Peta Asia, said in a statement. "When prisoners eat meat, eggs, and dairy, they’re consuming the pain, fear, and suffering that animals endured on farms and in slaughterhouses.

" Social media users responded to the proposal with comments ranging from jokes about the former prime minister’s living conditions to remarks that a rice-and-vegetable diet might reduce costs for taxpayers.