SARAWAK requires at least 1,000 qualified veterinarians, including animal scientists and para-veterinarians, by 2030.
Minister for Food Industry, Commodity, and Regional Development (M-FICORD), Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, said that to address the critical shortage of veterinarians in Sarawak, the establishment of School of Veterinary Medicine in Semenggok has been proposed.
“My ministry is collaborating with the Ministry of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Sarawak (MEITD) to make the establishment of the School of Veterinary Medicine a reality.
“A few engagements between my ministry, MEITD, and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) have been held to discuss and finalise the management model for the proposed School of Veterinary Medicine.
“The Senate of UPM has endorsed the proposed management model drafted by the Task Force,” he said during his ministerial winding-up speech yesterday.
He also said that the establishment of the School of Veterinary Medicine will strengthen veterinary services in Sarawak, helping to eradicate zoonotic diseases and accelerate the development of the RM3.0 billion livestock industry in the state.
“My ministry, through the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Sarawak, has presented a restructuring proposal for an additional 566 posts to the Sarawak Organisational Development Committee (SODC), which was agreed to in principle on August 21, 2024,” he said.
