Letter to the Editor
By Charlie Kho
I wish to respond to the recent remarks by Kuching South Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng during his “Shall WEE Talk” session, in which he described facing a dilemma in enforcing stray dog control and expressed reluctance due to interference from members of the public.
Let me begin by acknowledging that many Sarawakians love animals, and rightly so. But public safety is not optional. I say this not in theory, but from lived experience. Last year, I was bitten by a dog. Just last week, I was scratched by a cat. Both incidents required me to undergo the full rabies post-exposure treatment regimen—costly, painful, and mentally exhausting.
When the Mayor says he’s “in a dilemma”, I respectfully suggest that such sentiments are not reflective of the standard of leadership we need in times of public health risk. As Winston Churchill famously said, “The price of greatness is responsibility.” When lives are at risk, particularly from a deadly virus like rabies, indecision is itself a danger.
I wish to remind the public that in Sarawak, obstructing a civil servant from carrying out their lawful duties is a criminal offense. Under Section 186 of the Penal Code, anyone who “voluntarily obstructs any public servant in the discharge of his public functions” may face legal consequences.
This includes enforcement officers carrying out dog control operations. No amount of good intentions justifies breaking the law or compromising the health and safety of others.
To animal lovers who intervene in such enforcement activities, I urge you: compassion and compliance can coexist. If you truly care for stray animals, work with the authorities—not against them. Advocate for shelters, adopt, donate, or engage constructively. But do not interfere with officers trained and tasked to carry out duties that protect all of us.
To our city leadership, I say this: the higher the office, the heavier the responsibility. The public does not expect perfection, but we do expect clarity and courage. Protecting lives—human and animal alike—requires difficult decisions. But those decisions must be made, not delayed.
Let us stop wavering. Rabies does not wait.
Charlie Kho is a concerned citizen, wary of the ongoing rabies threat in Sarawak.
This is the personal opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of DayakDaily. Letters to the Editor may be lightly edited for clarity.
— DayakDaily
