Cockfighting (Sabong Ayam): Rules, History, Legality & Risks

Cockfighting, known regionally as Sabong Ayam or Laga Ayam, is a centuries-old tradition that has historically permeated the cultures of Southeast Asia, including parts of the Malay Archipelago. Far from being a mere spectator sport, in its traditional context, cockfighting was often intertwined with community ceremonies, rites of passage, and even systems of hierarchy, as famously documented in neighboring cultures like Bali and the Philippines.

The activity involves pitting two specially bred roosters (Ayam Sabung) against each other in an arena called a bon. The birds, selected for their stamina, aggression, and strength, are often fitted with sharp metal spurs or knives (taji) on their legs, turning the contest into a violent blood sport.

While the practice remains legal and a major industry in countries like the Philippines, in Malaysia, Sabong Ayam operates in a shadow realm, continually being pushed further underground due to strict legal prohibitions and overwhelming religious and ethical condemnation.

Historical and Traditional Rules

Before the enforcement of modern laws, cockfighting existed in various forms across the Malaysian states. It was a social event that gathered communities, and the outcome of the fight was a source of great prestige (or loss) for the rooster’s owner, who dedicated significant time and resources to their bird’s careful upkeep and training.

The Traditional Match

Although modern illegal matches often follow simplified, high-stakes gambling rules, the general framework of a cockfight involves:

• The Roosters: Only roosters known as Ayam Sabung (gamecocks), selectively bred for fighting traits, are used. They are typically raised until around two years old before competing.

• The Equipment: The most crucial element is the taji (spurs/guffs). These can be the rooster's natural spurs left uncut (Ayam Taji Asal), or, more commonly in illegal fights, a curved, razor-sharp steel blade attached to the bird’s leg to ensure a quick—and bloody—end.

• The Arena (Bon): A circular or square fenced area where the match takes place.

• The Referee (Sentensyador/Koyme): The official responsible for starting the fight, separating the birds, and, most importantly, declaring the winner. The winner is typically determined when one cock is killed, incapacitated, or refuses to fight after being physically handled and encouraged by the referee. Matches are usually quick, often lasting only a few minutes.

In the past, the prestige of the birds, the skill of the pemain (owner/handler), and the communal gathering were central. Today, the activity is primarily driven by illegal gambling (judi), which compounds the legal consequences.

Legality and Enforcement in Malaysia

The legal status of Sabong Ayam in Malaysia is unequivocally illegal. The practice is targeted under multiple pieces of legislation, primarily focusing on animal cruelty and illegal gambling.

The Animals Act 1953 (Act 647) and Animal Welfare Act 2015

The primary legal tool used to prosecute cockfighting is the legislation governing animal welfare and cruelty.

• Animal Welfare Act 2015: This act significantly strengthens the penalties against animal cruelty. Section 29, which prohibits cruelty to animals, includes an explicit ban on causing or permitting any animal fight or baiting, and is directly applicable to cockfighting.

  • Penalty: Offenders can face heavy fines (up to RM100,000) and imprisonment (up to 3 years), or both.

• Animals Act 1953 (Act 647): This older legislation also contains provisions against animal cruelty and the improper keeping of animals, which can be applied to the brutal nature of the sport.

Betting and Gaming Legislation

Since cockfighting is virtually always associated with illegal betting rings, participants and organizers are also charged under gambling-related laws.

• Common Gaming Houses Act 1953: This act targets the illegal gambling aspect, which is often the main motivator for these underground activities. Anyone caught participating in or operating a gambling den (including a makeshift cockfighting ring) faces significant fines and jail time.

Ongoing Enforcement (Police Raids)

Police forces across the country, particularly in Sabah, Sarawak, Johor, and Kelantan, frequently conduct raids (serbuan) on clandestine cockfighting rings. These reports often highlight:

• Arrests: The detention of large groups of local and foreign nationals.

• Seizures: The confiscation of live gamecocks, deceased birds, taji (spurs), betting money, and other equipment.

• Consequences: Individuals apprehended face charges not only for animal cruelty but also for illegal gambling and sometimes violations of movement/health ordinances.

The constant police action underscores that despite the tradition's deep roots, the Malaysian government maintains a zero-tolerance policy against the practice.

Religious and Ethical Risks

Beyond the legal penalties, Sabong Ayam faces profound ethical and religious objections in Malaysia, which contribute to its status as a social vice.

The Islamic View (Hukum Haram)

For the majority Muslim population in Malaysia, Islamic scholars and Mufti departments have unequivocally declared Sabong Ayam as Haram (forbidden). The ruling is based on two key principles:

1. Cruelty to Animals (Zulm al-Hayawan): Islamic teachings emphasize Ihsan (kindness/excellence) towards all creation, including animals. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) forbade the practice of baiting or fighting between animals (al-tahreesh bayna al-baha'im), as it involves unnecessary torment, pain, and injury to the animals for pure amusement and profit.

2. Gambling (Al-Maisir/Judi): The betting aspect that accompanies virtually all cockfighting is strictly forbidden in Islam, as detailed in the Quran, due to its potential to cause financial ruin, enmity, and distraction from religious duties.

Animal Welfare Concerns

From a secular ethical and animal welfare perspective, Sabong Ayam is globally condemned as a brutal blood sport.

• Extreme Suffering: The fitting of sharp, weaponized spurs is designed to inflict maximum and often fatal trauma, resulting in extreme suffering for the birds.

• Neglect and Abuse: The lives of gamecocks are dictated by fighting; they are typically confined, trained, and sometimes injected with substances to enhance aggression, compromising their welfare from birth.

• Public Health: The practice can also pose risks related to the spread of animal-borne diseases due to the unregulated movement and handling of the birds.

Conclusion: A Tradition in Decline

In modern Malaysia, Sabong Ayam is no longer viewed as a benign cultural tradition but rather as a dangerous, brutal, and illegal activity tied closely to organized crime and gambling. While pockets of the practice persist, driven by the lure of profit and deep-seated cultural habits in remote areas, the clear and uncompromising legal framework—backed by aggressive police enforcement and strong religious disapproval—has forced the activity into the shadows.

The transition reflects Malaysia's increasing commitment to modern animal welfare standards and the enforcement of laws that prioritize public order and ethical treatment of animals over a deeply contested historical custom.