KUCHING, July 16: Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei is urging the Sarawak Disaster Management and Relief Committee to draw up a more drastic policy to control and eventually eradicate rabies in the state.
He told reporters on the sidelines of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today that the committee currently seemed to have “lost control” of this dangerous outbreak.
“Penang had similar outbreaks in 2015, but they managed to resolve it within two to three months. From there, I see the state government’s manner in handling this is not up to mark,” opined Wong.
He said he was willing to give some ideas and input on how the State Disaster Management and Relief Committee could improve their programmes to prevent the spread of rabies and control the movement of stray dogs and other infected animals.
“I give credit to the officers on the ground rounding up the stray dogs, probably risking their lives not just from the strays but also some irresponsible people.
“However, the state government should come up with a more drastic policy so that these officers could properly carry out their jobs and be more effective,” said Wong.
He said he would try to meet and discuss with State Disaster Management and Relief Committee chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas ways the committee could improve.
Rabies claimed its eighth victim on May 3, 2018. On that day, an 11-year-old boy from Kampung Sebangkoi in Simunjan died at the Sarawak General Hospital. The boy started showing symptoms of this deadly disease on April 18. — DayakDaily
