Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has ticked of Gerakan state chairperson Teng Chang Yeow for politicising the state’s decision to cull stray dogs to prevent the spread of rabies.

Lim said this was a public health issue as the decision was based on advice by experts in the health and veterinary departments.

He added that Teng was not telling the truth when he said that the former BN government in Penang did not kill dogs as there is a proof that they had privatised the culling of dogs.

Lim claimed that from 2003 to 2006, the BN administration paid RM80 per dog to two private company to cull 6,054 dogs.

The previous state governmenpt earned RM484,000 for the job, Lim added.

"We did not employ private companies to do the task as it is currently done by govt agencies," Lim said.

“When we cull the dogs, we do it in a humane manner following the guidelines by the veterinary department,” Lim said at a press conference today.

“Penang is not the only one doing it as it is also happening in Perlis and Kedah,” Lim added.

He urged critics of the decision to view the matter “rationally and logically”, to accept the views of experts and not to act on their own.

He dismissed allegations by Teng that the state had acted unilaterally when making the decision to cull dogs.

He chided Teng for making such sarcastic and childish remarks.

“He should not be politicising the issue, if he were really concerned about the dogs, he should also criticise Perlis and Kedah, the health and veterinary departments,” Lim said.

Teng had said yesterday that he was very proud to be in the previous BN-led state government which did not kill any dogs.

Teng said the administration which he previously served only culled pigs “to save lives” when the nipah virus was spreading as there was no way to contain the disease.

He added that for rabies, dogs should be vaccinated instead of being captured and killed.

Three cases of humans bitten by wild dogs

Lim also said there were now three cases of humans being bitten by wild dogs and face the threat of rabies.

“If there are deaths of human and pets because of rabies, who will be responsible? Will Teng be responsible for it?” he asked.

“Don’t play around with the issue,” Lim warned Teng.

On the protests against him and the controversial decision to kill all stray dogs by animal rights group since Thursday, Lim said it was their right to do so.

Likewise, he urged the group to understand why the state had to make such a decision as there is a risk of human and pet dogs dying of rabies.

He added that he met “more rational” groups at his office yesterday, and firmly told them that the decision to cull dogs were based on expert advice and not roadside advice.

However, to overturn the decision, Lim said the various groups should be lobbying the experts from the health and veterinary departments, and not him as he acted on their advice.

To the group, Lim said “If you really do not agree to this decision, please protest in Kedah and Perlis as well as they are doing the same thing”.

“Don’t just target or blame Penang unless you are like Teng, who has taken the opportunity to politicise a matter which is a public health concern,” Lim said.