HELD FOR MOVING DOG FROM RABIES AREA
He transported his pet dog without permit from Sarawak veterinary authority
AMAN was detained and fined by authorities for moving his pet dog out of a rabies-infected area without a movement permit from the state veterinary authority.
The Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee Secretariat said the dog was transported by air from Kuching to Lawas via a transit in Miri on Monday.
Following a tip-off from an airline agent, veterinary personnel arrested the man upon his arrival in Lawas to facilitate investigations.
In a statement yesterday, the secretariat said the man was the first person to be fined RM500 under the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999.
The dog has been vaccinated and is under observation.
This comes after a directive banning the moving of dogs, which came into force on Oct 6.
Roadblocks have been set up to enforce the ban, which was implemented to contain the rabies outbreak.
The police and authorities have the right to stop anyone from transporting dogs.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas announced three new rabies-infected areas in Sarawak.
They are Dalat District Health Office in Mukah, Miri Airport, and Shin Yang Plywood Sdn Bhd in Kuala Baram, Miri.
There are 44 rabies-affected areas in the state.
The outbreak, which was first detected in Serian on June 30 last year, has claimed 12 lives.