By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Nov 4: Sarawak has less than 100 veterinarians at present and it needs to have about 200 by 2030.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said he was aware that Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak is facing a shortage of manpower and veterinarians in the State.
“Now, Sarawak has less than 100 veterinarians and we have no choice but to allow Indonesian vets who graduate from universities recognised by the Malaysian Veterinary Council, to work in the private sector.
“We need 200 (veterinarians) by 2030 and 1,000 by 2040,” he said in a text of speech delivered by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas during the 22nd Federation of Asian Veterinary Associations (FAVA) and 33rd Malaysian Veterinary Medical Association (MAVMA) Congress 2023 Gala Dinner held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today.
Abang Johari added that veterinarian are central to the human-animal relationship and Veterinary Public Health, which is important for the future of the community.
“Therefore, we need more veterinary doctors and an increase in manpower in the State to accelerate the growth of the industry.
“We encourage the opening of a Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Sarawak,” he added.
The event also saw Uggah presenting Anugerah Mengenang Jasa (AMJ) 2023 (award) to four recipients, namely Prof Dato Dr Mohd Azmi Mohd Lila, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM); Dato Dr Shri Kanth Kanaesalingam, Chief Veterinary Surgeon, Selangor Turf Club; Dr Chang Teck Soon, Senior Veterinarian at Bettie Veterinary Clinic & Surgery; and Datu Dr Adrian Susin Ambud, Director of Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak.
Meanwhile, Dr Kok Mun Keong, senior lecturer at Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UPM, was presented the Malaysian College of Veterinary Specialist (MCVS) certification.
Among those present were Uggah’s wife Datin Amar Dato Doreen Mayang, Malaysian Department of Veterinary Services director-general Dr Akma Ngah Hamid, Sarawak’s Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (M-FICORD) deputy permanent secretary Sayed Ismail Nasiruddin Bin Dato’ Sri Wan Hashim, FAVA president Dr Isao Kurauchi, MAVMA president Dr Helen Mitin and Federation of Asian Veterinary Association past president Dato Dr Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam. — DayakDaily
