By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Nov 23: The proposed amendment to Veterinary Public Health Ordinance, 1999 to allow State Veterinary Authority to authorise any person especially Immune Belt Enforcement Team (IBET) officers to dispense veterinary drugs and administer vaccinations, was passed unanimously in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) today.
The Veterinary Public Health (Amendment) Bill, 2022 was tabled by Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom in the DUN sitting earlier today.
He said as of now, IBET officers under the Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit are only empowered to organise rabies awareness programmes.
“Currently, there are no existing provisions in the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance to authorise and give due power to the IBET officers for the vaccination of dogs and dispensary of veterinary drugs.
“Therefore, it is proposed to amend (the Bill) that they will be given a legal authority or power to any person, especially IBET officers from Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit in performing their tasks and responsibilities,” he said.
Dr Rundi said Sarawak currently has 32 IBET officers and they will play a significant role in assisting the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS) to monitor the whole length of the Sarawak-Kalimantan border especially in vaccination works.
“The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government, being a responsible government, not only enhances development but also protects our people from all diseases and other calamities.
“The role by played by these IBET officers is indeed timely as we are actually short of manpower in DVSS,” he added. — DayakDaily
