Associated Press: Activists protest animal testing plans in Malaysia

[Guest guest]

There is an action alert from the SPCA Selangor, BUAV and ECEAE

following this article. Please consider supporting this campaign and

sending letters of protest to the Malaysian authorities.

 

Thank you

Sarah Kite of Special Projects

BUAV

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http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Activists-protest-animal-testing-plans\

-in-Malaysia-462662.php#page-2

 

 

Activists protest animal testing plans in Malaysia

 

 

EILEEN NG, Associated Press Writer

 

 

Published: 04:56 a.m., Monday, April 26, 2010

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — An Indian bio-tech company's plans to set

up laboratories for testing dogs and primates in Malaysia have angered

animal rights groups who say the trial subjects could face suffering

because the country has no regulations on animal research.

 

India's Vivo BioTech

<http://www.greenwichtime.com/?controllerName=search & action=search & channel=news & \

search=1 & inlineLink=1 & query=%22Vivo+BioTech%22>

Ltd. inked a 450 million ringgit ($141 million) joint-venture deal in

January to set up a biotechology center in southern Malacca state to

develop and manufacture medicine. The center will include laboratories

where trial medicines will be tested on animals.

 

Vivo officials declined to comment on the issue when contacted Monday.

Malacca state officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

 

Activists say tougher regulations on animal testing in the West are

pushing companies to outsource to Asia, where there are lax regulations

and cheaper costs.

 

In a joint statement issued over the weekend, Malaysia's Society for the

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

<http://www.greenwichtime.com/?controllerName=search & action=search & channel=news & \

search=1 & inlineLink=1 & query=%22Society+for+the+Prevention+of+Cruelty+to+Animals%\

22>,

the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection

<http://www.greenwichtime.com/?controllerName=search & action=search & channel=news & \

search=1 & inlineLink=1 & query=%22British+Union+for+the+Abolition+of+Vivisection%22\

>

and the European Coalition

<http://www.greenwichtime.com/?controllerName=search & action=search & channel=news & \

search=1 & inlineLink=1 & query=%22European+Coalition%22>

to End Animal Experiments cried foul over the project because Malaysia

has no laws protecting the welfare of animals used in experiments.

 

" Malaysia currently has no legislation governing the use of animals in

research, " the statement said, adding that they opposed the proposed

facility for " both ethical reasons and the lack of scientific validity

of using animals in testing. "

 

The groups submitted a protest letter to the government last week,

urging it to halt the project, and also requested a meeting with the

local authorities to discuss the issue, SPCA official Jacinta Johnson

<http://www.greenwichtime.com/?controllerName=search & action=search & channel=news & \

search=1 & inlineLink=1 & query=%22Jacinta+Johnson%22>

said Monday.

 

" Malaysia should not open the economy to businesses like this as it

promotes cruelty, " she said.

 

Officials from the wildlife and veterinary departments said Monday they

were not aware of the project and have not received any application from

Vivo Biotech to import animals for research.

 

The company has said previously that Vivo may import beagles from

Holland and try to obtain domestic primates for testing before turning

to overseas sources. Companies need permits to import or export wildlife

or any protected species in Malaysia.

 

Last year, a French pharmaceutical research company proposed setting up

an animal testing laboratory in southern Johor state using imported

macaques, but the project was suspended amid an outcry from

environmental groups.

 

The proposed facility in Malacca is a joint venture involving key

majority shareholder Vivo BioTech, state government-owned Melaka Biotech

Holdings

<http://www.greenwichtime.com/?controllerName=search & action=search & channel=news & \

search=1 & inlineLink=1 & query=%22Melaka+Biotech+Holdings%22>

and local firm Vanguard Creative Technologies

<http://www.greenwichtime.com/?controllerName=search & action=search & channel=news & \

search=1 & inlineLink=1 & query=%22Vanguard+Creative+Technologies%22>.

 

 

 

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*Action Alert*

 

*Please support the international campaign to stop the development of an

animal testing laboratory in Malaysia*

 

We are writing to request that you join with us in opposing the

development of an animal testing facility at the Masjid Tanah Industrial

Park in Malacca, Malaysia. The BUAV (www.buav.org <http://www.buav.org>)

, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Selangor

(www.*spca*.org.my <http://www.spca.org.my>) and the European Coalition

to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE) (www.eceae.org <http://www.eceae.org>)

have joined forces to campaign on this issue and we need your help! //

 

The laboratory, which plans to house nonhuman primates, dogs and small

animals, will be the result of a RM450 million deal between the Indian

contract testing company, Vivo BioTech, Vanguard Creative Technologies,

and the Malaysian government-owned company, Melaka Biotech.

 

Malaysia currently has no legislation governing the use of animals in

research. According to the company’s website (www.vivobio.com), Vivo

Biotech carries out extensive animal research, including toxicity

testing on a variety of species for a number of purposes, including the

controversial use for cosmetic products. It has also been reported that

primates could be sourced locally in Malaysia. The government of

Malaysia made an important stand by re-instating the ban on the export

of primates for research in 2008. Should the animal laboratory be

allowed to be set up in Malacca, immense suffering, misery and death

will be inflicted on thousands of animals, and potentially facilitate

the trade in wild-caught macaques within Malaysia.

 

The coalition opposes the construction of this facility for both ethical

reasons and the lack of scientific validity of using animals in testing.

It argues that there is a large range of non-animal techniques that, as

well as being a more humane approach to science can also be cheaper,

quicker and more effective.

 

There is still time to take action. We understand that as yet, no notice

or applications of permits have been made to the Peninsular Malaysia

Department of Wildlife and National Parks, or the Department of

Veterinary Services.

 

Further information and a link to a recent article in the /Malay Mail/,

a leading Malaysian newspaper, can be viewed here:

 

http://www.buav.org/a/2010/04/02/309

<http://mail.buav.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.buav.org/a/2010/04/02\

/309>

 

Please support the campaign and urge the Prime Minister of Malaysia and

the Chief Minister of Malacca to put an end to the negotiations between

the Indian biotechnology company and the State government-owned Melaka

Biotech. Request that they do not embark on the controversial business

of animal research and remind them of the negative impact that the

proposed laboratories will have on Malaysia’s international image.

 

- Prime Minister of Malaysia

 

Datuk Seri Najib Razak

 

Prime Minister

 

Office of the Prime Minister

Main Block, Perdana Putra Building

Federal Government Administrative Centre

62502 Putrajaya

 

Malaysia

 

Email: ppm <ppm (cc. the Prime Ministers

Secretary at aziz <aziz)

 

 

- Chief Minister of Malacca

 

Datuk Seri Hj. Mohd Ali bin Mohd Rustam

 

Office of the Chief Minister

 

The Seri Negari

 

The State Administrative and Development Centre

 

Malacca

 

Malaysia

 

Email: alirustam <alirustam

 

 

You can also request that the government authorities in Malaysia not

issue any permits for the facility.

 

- Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry

 

Datuk Seri Noh bin Omar

 

Wisma Tani, No 28, Persiaran Perdana, Precint 4

 

Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan

 

62624 Putrajaya

 

Wilayah Persekutuan

 

Malaysia

 

Email: nohomar <nohomar

 

 

- Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

 

Dato Sri Douglas Uggah Embas

 

Level 1 - 4, Podium 2 & 3, Wisma Sumber Asli

No.25, Persiaran Perdana, Precint 4

 

Federal Government Administrative Centre

62574 Putrajaya

 

Malaysia

 

Email: uggah <uggah

 

- Department of Veterinary Services

 

Dato’ Dr. Abd. Aziz b. Jamaluddin

 

The Director-General of Veterinary Services

 

Wisma Tani

 

Block Podium Lot 4G1

 

Presint 4

 

Federal Government Administrative Centre

 

62630 Putrajaya

 

Malaysia

 

Email: azizj <azizj

 

 

- Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan)

 

Dato' Abd. Rashid bin Samsudin

-General

 

Headquarters of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks

 

Km 10, Jalan Cheras

56100 Kuala Lumpur

 

Malaysia

 

Email: rashid <rashid (cc. to

Personal Assistant at pakp <pakp)

 

 

You can also write to the Embassy of Malaysia in your own country. For

the contact details of Malaysian Embassies around the world go to:

 

http://www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-of/Malaysia