Malaysia has been nominated to organise the third World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Global Conference on Animal Welfare (GCAW) here in November next year.
Veterinary Services Department director-general Dr Abdul Aziz Jamaluddin said that the decision was reached at the general session of the OIE in Paris which ended on Friday.
Dr Abdul Aziz, who represented Malaysia at the session, said that the nomination was an honour for Malaysia, and a recognition for its efforts to improve animal welfare in the country. As Malaysia strives to be a developed nation, animal welfare will be one of the significant indicators of its developed status.
“This conference will increase public awareness of the importance of managing animal welfare in Malaysia,” he said in a statement. This is notwithstanding that some states still allow the cruel practice of the shooting of stray dogs, as well as the antiquated penalties under the Animal Act 1953.
The third OIE GCAW will focus on issues such as the challenges in implementing the OIE Animal Welfare Standards especially in the Asia, Far East and the Oceania. Dr Abdul Aziz said that the benefit from the conference would be multifold, including improving Malaysia’s image given how animal welfare issues around the country have come to light recently.
About 400 participants from around the world are expected to attend the conference.
CJMY
