KUCHING: An Immune Belt Enforcement Team (IBET) has been established by the Sarawak government with the purpose of stopping rabid dogs from entering the state.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said IBET was approved by the Cabinet recently and its establishment was aimed at addressing the issue of rabid dogs that continued to enter Sarawak through its long and porous border.
“With the setting of IBET that provides space for the various agencies to collaborate under the State Security and Enforcement Unit (UKPN), we can effectively pool resources together to stop rabid dogs from entering the state,” he said in a special address in conjunction with UKPN’s third anniversary.
He said UKPN had played a leading role in coordinating operations to combat rabies statewide.
“The eight phases of operations started from Telok Melano in March 2019 and ended in Lawas in November. The operation had successfully vaccinated 26,000 dogs and put to sleep another 11,000,” he said.
Abang Johari added that UKPN had also played an active role as part of the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) in the fight against Covid-19.
“UKPN’s participation has provided a motivating factor and morale booster to other agencies to discharge their duties well,” he pointed out.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and UKPN director Datuk Dr Chai Khin Chung.
