by DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 29: Minister Of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, Sarawak Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi has urged the public and pet owners to vaccinate and microchip their pets following the detection of 11 rabies-positive cases by the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS) in March 2025.
Most of these cases involved dog bites, with several incidents linked to free-roaming pets. The affected locations are:
- Kampung Sejijak, Batu Kawa, Kuching. (Free Roaming Pet dog) – Bite case.
- Kampung Surih Stapok, Lorong 5, Off Jalan Batu Kawa, (Stray Dog) – Bite Case.
- MJC Factory, Batu Kawa, (Stray Dog) – Bite Case.
- Lorong 2E, Jalan Stephen Yong, Kuching. (Dog).
- Jalan Semaba Batu 5, Jalan Penrissen Padawan (Free Roaming Pet) – Bite Case.
- Jalan Sebuku, Buso, Bau, (Free Roaming Pet) – Bite Case.
- Pekan Paku, Bau, (Free Roaming Pet) – Bite Case.
- Jalan Bau Lama, Pekan Paku, Bau. (Stray Dog) – Bite Case.
- Kampung Nyabut, Trombol, Telaga Air, (Stray Dog) – Bite Case.
- Taman Hillside, Matang Sungai Tengah, Padawan (Stray Dog) – Bite Case.
- Taman Desa Sejijak Lorong 1A3 Area, Padawan, Kuching. (Stray Dog) – Bite case.
Dr Rundi emphasised that pet owners within a 1km radius of the affected areas must vaccinate their pets immediately to prevent further spread of the disease.
“This declaration is necessary to ensure more effort is taken by the district and the division concerned.
“DVSS together with local councils and Immune Belt Enforcement Team (IBET) from UKPS will carry out anti-rabies vaccination and licensing throughout Sarawak during their mass vaccination campaign which will be announce from time to time at the official DVS Sarawak FB account,” he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the public can get their free dog anti-rabies vaccination at any Government Veterinary Offices and apply license at their respective council during office hours. Private veterinary clinics are also providing rabies vaccine with minimal cost.
Pet owners can also join the free vaccination and microchip programmes which will be held on April 12, 2025 (Saturday) at Dewan Masyarakat, Jalan Padungan from 8.30am to 4.30pm, and on April 26, 2025 (Saturday) at Balai Raya Desa Wira, MPP from 8.30am to 4.30pm.
He stressed that the anti-rabies vaccination order under Section 40(1) of the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999 (VPHO 1999) is still in force. This mandates that all dogs in the state must undergo anti-rabies vaccination and receive annual boosters.
“Dog owners are responsible to get their pets vaccinated. Failure to comply is an offence and may be fine of up to RM 2,500,” he warned.
Dr Rundi also reminded dog owners to keep their pets under effective control by confining them within secure enclosures.
“Owners who let their dogs roam freely on the streets shall be liable to a fine not exceeding RM5,000 under Section 37, VPHO 1999 and or RM2,000 under section 12 (Dog Licensing and Control) by-laws, 2018,” he said.
Local councils are also authorised to seize and impound free-roaming dogs.
“Dog suspected with rabies and exposed to rabies with no vaccination record will be euthanised for laboratory test,” Dr Rundi added. – DayakDaily
