Social media group to counter ‘fake news’ on anti-rabies ops
KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah yesterday announced that a social media group has been set up to help explain the purpose of the ongoing anti-rabies operation and its benefits to the people.
The State Disaster Management Committee chairman said the group would help counter false accusations made by irresponsible parties on social media.
“For those with the tendency to criticise or accuse us, please go to the ground and see how the team does its job. They have tasks to accomplish, pet dogs to be vaccinated and strays to be targeted for removal.
“They have their SOP (standard operating procedure) to follow,” he said after attending a postmortem meeting on the operation at the Padawan Municipal Council ( MPP) office yesterday.
Uggah said he was happy to note that the majority of the people want the operations to be continued, adding: “If you follow postings on social media, many do give us positive remarks and encourage us in our operations.”
He also appealed to dog owners to have their pets vaccinated and to cooperate with anti- rabies personnel.
On the operation carried out in Padawan from April 4 to 8, Uggah said it involved 379 officers and personnel who vaccinated 1,331 dogs and removed 1,271 strays.
“We achieved 73 per cent vaccination rate for dogs from the targeted 100 per cent rate. I congratulate all those involved for their success despite the many challenges and issues on the ground,” he added.
The next round of operation
For those with the tendency to criticise or accuse us, please go to the ground and see how the team does its job. They have tasks to accomplish, pet dogs to be vaccinated and strays to be targeted for removal.
takes place today (April 10) before moving to Kuching from April 21 to May 2.
“We have reminded enforcement personnel that there should not be any tranquilising of dogs in house compounds.
“If the team approaches any dogs within the compound, it is for the purpose of vaccination which is in line with our main objective,” said Uggah.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Police Contingent operations staff officer DSP Collin Barat said 12 police reports had been lodged by members of the public in Padawan, but only one investigation paper was opened.
He revealed that one man was arrested April 7 for trying to obstruct an enforcement team from carrying out its duties during the operation, and was released the following day.
“The man had taken video clips of anti-rabies personnel on his mobile phone, making accusations against them and also using foul language against them, for tranquilising a dog which did not have any vaccination tag,” said Collin during the meeting.
He added there had been attempts to disrupt the operation in the Jalan Stephen Yong area, where iron nails were strewn on the road leading to a sewerage plant there.
Among those present at the post-mortem meeting were Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian and MPP chairman Lo Khere Chiang.
Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, Deputy Chief Minister