Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) officers will be heading to Penang to survey their facilities while looking at alternative options in tackling the rabies outbreak there, Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said today.

However, the trip will only be made after they decide on which alternative options they will be implementing, he added.

"After the discussions, DVS will be heading to Penang to look at their facilities regarding any decisions made.

“For example, if we go with mass vaccinations, we have to make sure we have enough vaccinations at hand," he said at a press conference in Putrajaya.

Penang announced on Sept 17 that there will be a mass culling of stray dogs in the state to fight a rabies outbreak there.

Following this, many animal rights groups and individuals strongly criticised the move saying that vaccinations would work just as well in dealing with the crisis.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has defended the state's decision.

Mass vaccinations

He said the state's decision was based on expert recommendations from the Malaysian Veterinary Department and the Health Department on how to contain the spread of rabies.

Ahmad Shabery further said that after discussing with animal welfare NGOs, it was agreed that the best solution to deal with the rabies outbreak was mass vaccinations.

He said they would still have to make sure they have sufficient resources to carry out mass vaccinations throughout the country first.

"We need a lot of resources (to do mass vaccinations). We need enough vaccines, human labour and space to quarantine the dogs after that," he said.

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