Dr Vos delivers an ORV briefing during the programme. – Photo by Chimon Upon Dr Nicholas Jenek – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (April 10): Sarawak has begun distributing oral rabies vaccine (ORV) bait to free-roaming dogs as part of efforts to strengthen rabies control measures in the state. During the ORV briefing and training programme held near the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) here, Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS) deputy director Dr Nicholas Jenek said the programme involves giving edible vaccine bait to dogs that are difficult to catch or handle. “For today, we are doing a trial run because it is quite a new concept for us. Normally we use what we call parenteral vaccination, which means injectable. “But today we are trying the oral rabies vaccine, whereby we place the bait on the street and let the dogs take them,” he told reporters, adding dogs that consume the bait will have enough antibodies developed after about one month. He added that the oral vaccination method targets dogs that are difficult to catch, especially those that roam freely. “This is mostly for dogs that we cannot catch — those that are constantly free-roaming or animals that even their owners cannot handle,” he explained. Dr Nicholas stressed that the oral vaccine complements, rather than replaces, the conventional injectable vaccination. “The main method is still parenteral vaccination. But this helps us reach dogs that we cannot approach,” he said, adding that authorities aim to vaccinate at least 70 per cent of the dog population to effectively control rabies. Photo shows the oral rabies vaccine bait. – Photo by Chimon Upon About 5,000 pieces of ORV bait have been procured by the government for the programme and are currently stored at the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC) under strict cold chain conditions. “These baits must be kept in a cold chain environment just like any other vaccine. That is why they are stored at SIDC and transported in cool boxes,” he said. He said the vaccination exercise will continue throughout the month following today’s trial run. “For the whole programme, we have about 5,000 baits. Starting tomorrow until almost the end of this month, the activities will continue,” he said. The programme began at 6.45am with the arrival of participants and guests, followed by welcoming remarks by Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) president Datin Sri Dona Drury Wee and opening remarks by Dr Nicholas. An ORV programme briefing was delivered by Dr Ad Vos of Ceva Santé Animale before participants conducted a practical training session in the surrounding area to demonstrate the deployment of the vaccine bait. About 80 participants took part in the programme, including representatives from the Immune Belt Enforcement Team (IBET), SIDC, DVSS, SSPCA, MPP, and volunteers. Dr Vos observes a free-roaming dog as it approaches and sniffs an ORV bait placed on the road. – Photo by Chimon Upon Earlier this month, Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the oral vaccination approach forms part of broader efforts to strengthen rabies prevention in Sarawak. “This time, we are testing the tasty egg-based dog treats containing rabies vaccines, which we will give to the animals,” he said. He added that the initiative, supported by SIDC and led by SSPCA with assistance from international partners including Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) and Ceva Santé Animale, could help reach free-roaming dogs and animals in areas where conventional vaccination methods are difficult to implement.

Tan (second left) hands over the food assistance to a recipient. KUCHING (April 10): A total of 31 underprivileged families across the city received essential food supplies from Exal Malaysia last month. The recipients were from Kampung Pinggan Jaya, Kampung Tanjong Bako, Kampung Paya Mebi, Kampung Sinar Budi Baru, Kampung Sejijak, Kampung Stapok, Kampung Sri Arjuna and Kampung Haji Baki. The initiative, held from March 17 to 19 in collaboration with the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP), saw Exal Malaysia distribute approximately RM15,000 worth of essential food supplies to needy households and single mothers. The company said the initiative reflects its broader philosophy of building communities beyond homes, where long-term value extends beyond physical infrastructure. The programme was led by Exal Malaysia managing director Albert Ko and attended by MPP chairman Tan Kai and councillors Mohammad Fauzi Ali and Shamsuddin Unai. Ko said the company believes that building communities goes beyond delivering homes. “It means contributing meaningfully to the people who live in them. This initiative reflects our belief that responsible development must also create a positive and lasting impact within the communities we serve,” he said. Exal Malaysia noted that the programme reflects a growing shift within Malaysia’s property sector, where developers are increasingly expected to contribute to social sustainability alongside physical development. It added that community engagement and social impact are becoming key benchmarks for long-term corporate value and stakeholder trust, in line with Bursa Malaysia’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) guidelines and broader industry trends. By working closely with MPP and local community leaders, Exal Malaysia said it ensured the initiative was both targeted and impactful, reinforcing the significance of cooperation in addressing real community needs. “As Exal expands its footprint in Sarawak, the developer remains committed to integrating social responsibility into its developments while strengthening community resilience,” it added.  

File photo of a dog receiving its rabies vaccination. KUCHING (April 11): The Sarawak Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) will be conducting its Free Rabies Vaccination Campaign across Kuching this month to help protect both pets and the wider public. SSPCA in a Facebook post said oral rabies vaccines (ORV) have also been deployed for stray dogs as part of ongoing field efforts to curb rabies in the community. “Over the past 2 days, our team has been on the ground in the Padawan area, undergoing training and deployment to safely administer Oral Rabies Vaccines (ORV) to stray dogs. “This allows us to reach dogs that are harder to catch, strengthening overall rabies control in the community,” the society said. SSPCA also stressed that ORV is not for public handling or administration to pets. “It must be deployed by trained personnel, as each vaccine is tracked and recorded through a dedicated system once consumed by free-roaming animals. “For owned pets, it is still best to bring them to a vaccination point for a standard rabies injection to ensure proper protection,” it said. SSPCA will hold weekend dog vaccination sessions on Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 4pm at Batu Kawa Riverbank Park and SJK Chung Hua Syn-San-Tu. The following weekend, sessions will be held at Balai Raya RPR Batu Kawa and Balai Raya Desa Wira, also from 9am to 4pm. In addition, weekday oral vaccination street operations will begin next Monday until Wednesday from 7am to 10am, and continue from 4pm to 6pm in the Batu Kawa and Desa Wira areas. The same schedule will be repeated the following week in the same locations. SSPCA has urged the public not to feed stray dogs during morning operations on selected dates, adding that feeding may resume as usual after 10am. Meanwhile, the Padawan Municipal Council held an ORV briefing and training programme on Friday to strengthen rabies control efforts in the state. About 5,000 ORV baits have been procured by the government for the programme and are currently stored at the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre under strict cold-chain conditions.      

Yap (second left) hands over the LOA a representative of the contractor for the RTP project in Semaba. KUCHING (April 13): Two key Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) projects in Kota Sentosa constituency have received their letters of awards (LOA). The documents for the works on Jalan Semaba and Kota Sentosa Town Square were handed over to the contractors by Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap on Monday. He was accompanied by Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) officials. The first RTP project involves upgrading works on the drainage parts at Jalan Semaba (Phase 2), to be carried out by Bollzs Management Services, costing RM200,000. “This project is a direct response to the feedback from residents who have consistently raised concerns over drainage inefficiencies and localised flooding in the area,” said Yap in a statement. The LOA for contractor MF Jaya Bina Sdn Bhd is for Phase 2 of the upgrading works on Kota Sentosa Town Square at Mile 7 here, with an allocation of RM300,000. “This follows the successful implementation of Phase 1, which was previously completed at a cost of RM500,000,” added Yap. The assemblyman emphasised that both projects reflected the people-centric approach and also priority of ground feedback in ensuring timely implementation of development initiatives. “These projects are not decided from behind a desk. “They come directly from the voice of the people. “My duty is to listen carefully, act decisively and deliver effectively,” he said, also stressing the importance of close coordination with implementing agencies such as MPP to ensure that the projects would be carried out efficiently and reach completion on schedule. “Handing over the LOA is not the end; it is the beginning of delivery,” he said.