KUCHING: The Veterinary Public Health (Amendment) Bill 2022 is not the solution to the manpower shortage in the Veterinary Department, especially in dealing with rabies.
DAP-Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen said this when debating in support of the Bill
which allows the State Veterinary Authority to delegate its functions and duties to any public officer, and to allow authorisation of other persons by the State Veterinary Authority to dispense veterinary drugs.
“I believe this is not the solution for the shortage of manpower in the Veterinary Department. I believe the correct solution is increase the number of the employees of the authority rather than putting together the numbers from other public officers, other government servants from other department or ministry to help out the veterinary authority.
“Other officers may not be experienced in handling rabies and issues involving animals. I believe what the government should do is allocate more budget to employ more properly trained staff to be assigned under veterinary authority and that would definitely be more effective,” Chong said in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) today (Nov 23).
Chong said most pet owners are responsible but the spread of rabies can also come from the strays.
“I believe it is still the responsible of the local council to help in curbing the spread of the rabies and the blame cannot be just attributed to the people when most of them are responsible owners.
“However, with my aforementioned remarks, I support this Bill,” Chong added.
