Cover image via Dr Roslee (Provided to SAYS)
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If you're in Kota Kinabalu late at night, you might spot a familiar figure cruising through town with bags of food in the backseat
No, he's not delivering midnight nasi lemak. He's feeding strays.
Dr Roslee.
Image via Dr Roslee (Provided to SAYS)Dr Roslee, animal rescuer, stray feeder, and the heart behind HEART (Helping Animals Rescue Team), has been doing this for more than two decades
Dogs, cats, pigeons… you name it, he's probably fed them.
"I started back in 2000.
"A mangy cat and an injured dog showed up at my house. They were weak and hungry. I fed them… and in return, they taught me resilience," he recalled in a chat with SAYS.
Just like that, what began as a simple act of compassion turned into a lifelong mission.
While most of us are already in our third dream by midnight, Dr Roslee is out there making sure 150 dogs, 90 cats, and a flock of pigeons don't go to bed hungry
From Kota Kinabalu to Penampang, Putatan, and beyond, he drives spot to spot, with every furry (and feathery) regular waiting for him like clockwork.
"They recognise me.
"The dogs wag their tails, the cats meow and circle my legs, even the shy ones creep closer now," he shared with a laugh.
Imagine late-night Kota Kinabalu streets, suddenly alive with wagging tails and hopeful eyes. That's his daily reality.
"I began feeding strays out of compassion, because I've always felt a deep connection with animals — especially those who have no one to care for them. Their hunger, pain, and silent cries for help touched me in a way I could never ignore," he shared.
He does it all alone. And yes, it's exhausting.
Eight-hour feeding shifts. Rain-soaked nights. Encounters with shady strangers at 3am. Add in the rising cost of food (all from his own pocket, unless kind donors step in), and it's enough to make anyone throw in the towel.
But he won't.
"They depend on me," he said simply. "I can't bear the thought of them waiting, only to go hungry."
There have been moments that broke his heart as well as moments that have kept him going
"There was a mother dog carrying an empty plastic bag in her mouth. She thought there was food inside… for her puppies. I broke down that night," he told SAYS.
But then there are the small wins, like the injured stray who, after weeks of fear, finally wagged his tail at him. Or the cat who went from malnourished and sickly to fluffy and adopted.
"These moments remind me why I keep doing it," he said.
Beyond the midnight feedings, Dr Roslee also spends his days raising awareness
From schools to universities, he teaches young people about compassion and animal welfare laws.
Because to him, it's not just about filling bowls, it's about planting seeds of kindness that (hopefully) outlast his lifetime.
It's easy to romanticise his story, but the truth is raw: sleepless nights, financial strain, and real danger
And yet, for Dr Roslee, at the end of the day, no matter the complaints, the threats, the weather, or the cost, nothing outweighs the joy of seeing wagging tails, grateful eyes, and full bellies.
"Compassion should never be conditional.
"Even when it's tough, I will keep showing up. Because for them, one person's consistency can mean the difference between despair and hope," he added.
Dr Roslee's commitment aligns with Execute AWA — Malaysia's first national humanity mission for greater animal welfare — by the people of Malaysia, for the animals of Malaysia.
This positive and professional community movement champions unity and grassroots collaboration, demands strict enforcement of laws that uphold justice, and advocates for legal reforms to raise the standards of animal rights nationwide.
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