KUCHING: Local authorities around the state were given 26 customised animal control vehicles by the state government in an effort to make Sarawak free of rabies by 2025.
In a ceremony held at Kuching South City Council (MBKS) yesterday, the vehicles were handed over to the councils by Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Sim said rabies whose outbreak was detected in 2017 must be fully contained if not eliminated because it has caused great loss of money, time, energy and many human lives.
“There are more than 300 cases of dog and cat bites every month, so I encourage everyone to go to a government hospital if they got bitten as anti-rabies vaccinations have been found to be 99 percent effective.
“The state government has provided free anti-rabies vaccination for your pets, so be responsible by neutering and microchip your pets, especially your dogs,” he said during his speech at the handover ceremony.
Sim also added that local councils played an important role in animal control, especially hawkers and food stall operators that often attract stray dogs.
“The state government through the State Disaster Management Committee has come up with several strategies and measures with local authorities serving as lead agencies to ensure that stray animals are removed from the streets. The public are urged to give full cooperation to the local authorities in this matter,” he said.
Sim also pointed out that with the state having been declared a level two disaster region under the National Security Council Directive No 20, the state government had strategised to combat the deadly disease.
“Until November 2019, there were 22 confirmed human rabies cases reported with 21 deaths and one (paralysed) survivor,” he said.
Sim also revealed that there were three dog compounds around the state ― one each in Kuching (Padawan), Sibu and Miri ― where people can claim their dogs that got captured by the authorities.
Among those present at the handover ceremony were Local Government assistant minister Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil, Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng, permanent secretary to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing Datuk Antonio Kahti Galis, Kuching South City Council deputy mayor Hilmy Othman, a representative of the director of Veterinary Service Sarawak Dr Stephen Gabriel, and secretaries of the 26 local
