KUCHING, Jan 15: Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen has called on the Sarawak government to implement a strays-free environment following the increase of rabies cases in the city.
He said to implement the policy, the State government must first set aside a plot of land to keep the stray dogs caught by the Kuching South City Council (MBKS).
From there, he said dogs caught are to be caged at the allocated place separately for some time for observation whether any rabies symptom develops.
The infected ones will need to be culled while the non-infected ones will be neutered.
“Anyone claiming to be the owner of the dogs caught by MBKS can always claim back the dog subject to reimbursing MBKS for the expenses incurred and payment of a fine imposed for letting out the dogs.
“The State government has both the land and the money to implement this policy. For the safety of the residents in Kuching, I urge the government and the local councils to take immediate action so that not another person will be bitten by stray dogs in Kuching,” he said in a statement today.
His statement came following the recent rabid dog bite incidents at Tabuan Desa Indah and Lorong Tabuan Timur on Jan 6 and 7.
Chong, who is also Stampin MP, further said that when rabies first broke out in Sarawak, there were serious actions taken by the State government to control the spread of the disease where stray dogs were caught and for a while, the streets of Kuching could see no strays running around.
“After a while, like most government policies, the Malay proverb of ‘hangat-hangat tahi ayam’ (committed to something only for a short period of time) culture set in and the stray dogs are again seen roaming the streets of Kuching,” he added. — DayakDaily
