A traffic police officer in the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah has been lauded for rescuing a kitten spotted in the middle of a busy road in Sandakan.

In a video posted by the Sandakan Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department on its Facebook page on Sept 4, the officer can be seen running towards the road where the kitten had been spotted amid heavy traffic.

He is then seen signalling an oncoming car to stop. The kitten dashes under the stopped car, seemingly hiding from the police officer.

At one point, the kitten appears to be hiding between the spokes of one of the car’s wheels.

The police officer gets on his knees to coax the feline out and eventually manages to grab hold of it, bringing it to safety.

The caption of Facebook post said in Malay: “Humanity’s mission… Saving a kitten that almost became a traffic casualty.” It also congratulated and thanked the officer.

As at Sept 8, the post had attracted more than 108,000 reactions, 4,100 comments and 10 million views.

The comment section of the post was flooded with praises for the police officer, including that from Helping Animals Rescue Team (Heart) in Kota Kinabalu.

The non-profit non-governmental organisation described the police officer’s act as heroic, adding that “your quick action not only saved a tiny, fragile life but also touched the hearts of many who witnessed your compassion”.

“You have earned our deepest respect – not only as a police traffic officer serving tirelessly during the busy morning rush hours, but also as a kind-hearted soul who did not hesitate to act when it mattered most,” Heart said.

Another commenter, Murulytharan Perimaleh, congratulated the traffic cop, describing him as someone who demonstrated a humanitarian attitude worthy of national recognition.

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