Roof Rat Laws › Malaysia
Summary. Malaysia is permissive for the roof rat, corrected by the wildlife agency itself. PERHILITAN (the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, which enforces the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, Act 716) confirmed in writing (June 2026) that Rattus rattus is NOT subject to Act 716 or to the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008 (Act 686), and that no licence or permit is issued for the species. So keeping a roof rat is not controlled by wildlife law (this overturns the earlier Deep Research reading that wrongly placed R. rattus in the Act 716 Fifth Schedule; the official MyBIS species record shows no Act 716 status, and Sabah and Sarawak likewise do not schedule it). Keeping is therefore legal nationwide. Commercial breeding or selling is an animal business under the Animal Welfare Act 2015 (Act 772) and needs a Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) licence; ordinary hobby keeping needs none beyond the Act’s welfare duties. Importing a live rat goes through the DVS veterinary import permit and MAQIS quarantine clearance (PERHILITAN redirected import questions there), not a wildlife bar. Not CITES-listed. Roof rats are a documented agricultural pest, so never release one.
legal note
This is a research aid, not legal advice; rules change and are interpreted by local officials. Verify with the official source before acting.- PERHILITAN (Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Peninsular Malaysia, Enforcement Division), written reply June 2026: the roof rat (Rattus rattus) is NOT subject to the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716) or the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008 (Act 686), and accordingly no licence or permit is issued by the Department for the species. For import and related matters, the Department directed inquiries to the Department of Veterinary Services and the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (MAQIS).
Status by activity
Keeping / owning Legal
Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-17
PERHILITAN (the enforcing wildlife department) confirmed in writing (June 2026) that Rattus rattus is NOT subject to the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716) or the endangered-species act (Act 686), and that no licence or permit is issued for it. Keeping is therefore not barred or permit-gated by wildlife law. The earlier Deep Research claim that R. rattus is a Fifth-Schedule ‘controlled species’ is contradicted by the enforcing agency and by the official MyBIS record, which shows no Act 716 status; it is superseded. Only the general welfare duties of the Animal Welfare Act 2015 (Act 772) apply to a kept pet.
Sources: Malaysia (via FAOLEX), Parliament of Malaysia (via FAOLEX), Sabah State (SAGC), Sarawak State (LawNet)
Breeding Legal
Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-17
Not barred by wildlife law (PERHILITAN, June 2026: R. rattus not under Act 716). Hobby breeding needs no wildlife permit; only the Animal Welfare Act 2015 (Act 772) welfare duties apply. Commercial-scale breeding is an ‘animal business’ under Act 772 and needs a Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) premises licence with a facility/welfare inspection.
Sources: Malaysia (via FAOLEX), Parliament of Malaysia (via FAOLEX), Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Malaysia
Selling or giving away Legal
Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-17
Not barred by wildlife law (PERHILITAN, June 2026). Private gifting or sale between individuals is unregulated by wildlife law; commercial retail (a pet shop or regular dealer) needs a DVS pet-shop/premises licence under the Animal Welfare Act 2015 (Act 772). Welfare duties, including no abandonment/no release, apply.
Sources: Malaysia (via FAOLEX), Parliament of Malaysia (via FAOLEX), Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Malaysia
Transport & import Legal with a permit
Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-17
Import is not a wildlife bar. PERHILITAN (June 2026) redirected import questions to the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) and the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (MAQIS): importing a live rat needs a DVS veterinary import permit plus MAQIS quarantine clearance through a designated entry point, with an origin-country veterinary health certificate. R. rattus is not CITES-listed (not under Act 686). Domestic movement of a lawfully kept rat is unregulated by wildlife law. Never release a roof rat, it is a documented agricultural pest.
Sources: Malaysia (via FAOLEX), Parliament of Malaysia (via FAOLEX), Sarawak State (LawNet)
Restrictions & responsibilities
- Keep a pet roof rat: no wildlife licence needed (PERHILITAN: not under Act 716)
- Commercial breeding/sale: obtain a DVS animal-business / pet-shop licence (Animal Welfare Act 2015)
- Import: obtain a DVS veterinary import permit + MAQIS quarantine clearance + origin-country health certificate
- Never release a roof rat (documented agricultural pest)
Where: Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) + MAQIS (import / commercial licence); PERHILITAN confirmed it is not a wildlife matter · Fees: DVS licence set by the department
Source: Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Malaysia, Malaysian Quarantine & Inspection Services (MAQIS)
Official sources
- Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716), Peninsular Malaysia’s federal wildlife law. PERHILITAN confirmed (June 2026) that Rattus rattus is NOT a listed or controlled species under it, so no wildlife licence applies., Malaysia (via FAOLEX)
- Wildlife Conservation (Amendment) Act 2022 (Act A1646), penalty amendments to Act 716 (context only; Rattus rattus is not under Act 716 per PERHILITAN)., Parliament of Malaysia (via FAOLEX)
- Animal Welfare Act 2015 (Act 772), welfare duties + animal-business / pet-shop licence (DVS), Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Malaysia
- Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 (No. 6 of 1997), Schedules (R. rattus not listed), Sabah State (SAGC)
- Sarawak Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998 (Cap. 26), Muridae not protected (R. rattus not scheduled), Sarawak State (LawNet)
- Sarawak Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999 (Cap. 32), s.9(1) Form A ‘Permit to Import’ for live animals, Sarawak State (LawNet)
- Wildlife Conservation (Exemption) Order 2019, shows the exemption mechanism exists; none covers private R. rattus keeping, PERHILITAN / Federal Gazette
- MyBIS, Rattus rattus species record, Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (Govt)
- MAQIS, live-animal import procedures (E-Permit; East Malaysia clearance), Malaysian Quarantine & Inspection Services (MAQIS)
Search terms: Rattus rattus, tikus rumah, tikus bumbung, tikus hitam, roof rat, black rat, ship rat, Malayan black rat.
Last reviewed 2026-06-17, which is when a person last read this page against its sources. Spotted an error, or know the law has changed? Email blonderoofrat@gmail.com.