Violet Yong (DAP–Pending) has urged Sarawak to urgently strengthen its response to the rabies outbreak and wildlife protection efforts, stating that the state’s sustainability claims are incomplete without addressing these pressing issues.
Speaking during the debate on the State Budget 2026 at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) on Wednesday, Yong pointed out that despite eight years of ongoing battle against rabies and over 80 recorded deaths, the state still lacks a strong and effective long-term strategy.
“Rabies is fatal but entirely preventable if post-exposure steps are taken. Yet public awareness remains dangerously low,” she said.
Yong called for the establishment of a dedicated Public Anti-Rabies Education Unit, focusing on awareness, proper post-bite response, responsible pet ownership, and vaccination of both dogs and cats. She added that such a unit could be placed under either the Department of Veterinary Services or the Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government.
She further stressed the urgency of expanding the state’s rabies control strategy, including mandatory cat vaccinations, noting that data now shows cats as the primary source of bite incidents.
“If Sarawak still cannot control rabies after eight years, we must acknowledge that our agencies need external expertise. Many countries, including Japan and Western nations, eliminated rabies through compulsory pet vaccination. Sarawak must follow suit,” Yong said.
On wildlife conservation, Yong warned that failure to protect biodiversity undermines Sarawak’s sustainability agenda.
“When species disappear, pollinators vanish, seed dispersal ends, and our forests fall silent. Wildlife protection is not optional—it is critical to our environmental integrity and cultural heritage,” she said.
Yong highlighted the rise in illegal wildlife trade, citing 444 arrests between April and September this year under ‘Ops Bersepadu Khazanah’, with confiscated items valued at over RM204 million. Among the most concerning were cases involving Sunda pangolins, a critically endangered species.
“These are more than statistics—they reflect a serious loss of biodiversity and a threat to our ecological stability,” she added.
She urged the government to strengthen legal enforcement, adopt technology-based surveillance, and increase public education to dispel myths about pangolin scales and reduce demand both locally and internationally.
“True sustainability must encompass our living ecosystems. If Sarawak claims leadership, we must stand against wildlife crime and champion biodiversity conservation,” Yong concluded.
