A DAP lawmaker said the Sarawak government has lost control of the battle against rabies.

Lanang assemblyman Irene Chang said the state’s “laid back” approach to tackling the mad dog disease that broke out in July 2017 and had killed 12 people, was in stark contrast to the response the three peninsular states – Kedah, Perlis and Penang – took when rabies broke out there in July 2015.

“The responses from the three states had one thing in common. It was quick, decisive and with no expenses being spared for logistics and to mobilise the necessary manpower,” Chang said when debating on the Sarawak 2019 budget today.

“The state government of the three states never lost their focus in saving human lives above all.

“As a result, the disease which started in late July 2015 was stemmed out by November 3, 2015 – a mere three months later with not a human life lost.”

Chang said the lives of the 12 people could have been saved if the Sarawak government had acted “swiftly, decisively and without fear of any backlash, political or otherwise, upon the first hint of trouble, like Kedah, Perlis and Penang where rapid mass vaccinations were immediately carried out”.

She also said in the three states’ experience, their Veterinary Services Department immediately set up roadblocks at state borders, culling of stray dogs were “fearlessly” undertaken and sufficient manpower was put in place to stem the spread of rabies.

“No expenses were being spared.”

Chang said though she understands that Sarawak has a much larger and different geographical land mass than the three state combined together, “the state government should not fall back on that as the reason for their loss of control against the spread of disease”.

“Everything starts small before it becomes humongous.

“Likewise, the disease has started with two deaths in Serian before spreading to almost every divisions, save for Mukah and Limbang.”

She said if the government does not step up in our effort, “it would only be a matter of time before these two divisions are also affected”.

Chang also faulted the state disaster management committee attempt to downplay the severity of the outbreak for the “complacent attitude by the people” about the disease.

That, she said, had led to the lack of cooperation from the people and hence “the unchecked early spread of rabies”.

“Most people have the mentality that they are untouchable until they are struck down, much like a prisoner on death row not realising the finality of the sentence until he is staring at the gallows.

“The laid back approach by the state government is causing more harm than good in the handling of this deadly disease,” she said.

“Let us get our priorities right and take control.”

She said with only the Mukah and Limbang divisions left rabies-free, “more urgent and aggressive actions are required, more teams need to be formed and tasked for humane capture and quarantine of stray dogs”.

“A lot more needs to be done to ensure that the population immunity of the animals is sufficient to prevent circulation of the rabies virus.”

Chang said the work to stem the spread of rabies should not end once the disease is under control.

She said a stray management mechanism should be put in place for local authorities and state Veterinary Department to carry out strict enforcement measures to ensure that strays are kept out of the streets. – November 7, 2018.