Assessment of public sentiments of COVID-19 in influencing the interaction between humans and pets in Malaysia and Indonesia

Saidin, Fathrurahiman (2023) Assessment of public sentiments of COVID-19 in influencing the interaction between humans and pets in Malaysia and Indonesia. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

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Abstract

During the pandemic of COVID-19, the restriction of movement and social restrictions caused elevation of stress in human. Furthermore, some events occurred in the subjects of violation of animal’s welfare especially in pet animals due to lack of understanding on the characteristics of the disease. Social media is one the ways to investigate the public sentiments that were affected by the pandemic and the violation of animal’s welfare that follows. The study focused on the analytics at macro-level of public sentiments of COVID-19 in influencing the interaction between humans and pets in Malaysia and Indonesia. A total 1829 tweets regarding human interaction with pet animals related to the pandemic of COVID-19 were collected from twitter originated from Malaysia and Indonesia in between 17th March 2020 to 17th September 2020. The tweets then analysed using natural language tools (NLTK) with human moderation. Several events that affect the public sentiments of the Twitter users are recorded. Assessments indicate large number of neutral and positive sentiments were predominant in the early stage of the study. Twitter users are portraying their care towards their pets and strays in regarding the social restriction decided by their government. Subsequently, after an incidence of animal cruelty was shared virally, public sentiment of positive (50%) rose in Malaysia significantly as the twitter users were demanding a justice for the abused animals meanwhile Indonesia predominantly showing both neutral (42%) and positive (34%) public sentiments for the same incidence. Later in the study, after some news was shared regarding a positive COVID-19 in cats were reported in United Kingdom, the shift in public sentiments towards negative sentiments (35% and 49%) in Malaysia and Indonesia respectively. In conclusion, the public sentiments of Malaysians are predominantly positive in influencing their interaction with pet animals during the COVID-19 outbreak whereas Indonesians primarily neutral public sentiments in the same case. However, in the presence of risk towards their own health, a shift towards negative public sentiments occurred. Observed in the tweets, in response to the shift in negative public sentiments, pet owners and animal lovers in both countries are defending their pets and strays and often will wait for disclosure from government or researchers before taking any measures towards their animals. (365 words)

Item Type:	Project Paper
Faculty:	Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Depositing User:	Ms. Nordeena Abdul Aziz
Date Deposited:	18 Nov 2024 02:39
Last Modified:	18 Nov 2024 02:39
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/2136

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