News Release and Action Alert: Animal groups unite to stop the construction of an animal testing laboratory in Malaysia [Scanned]

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News Release

For immediate release

23rd April 2010

 

Animal groups unite on World Day for Animals in Laboratories to stop the

construction of an animal testing laboratory in Malaysia

 

To mark World Day for Animals in Laboratories (April 24th), a coalition of

animal protection groups has launched an international effort to stop the

construction of an animal laboratory at the Masjid Tanah Industrial Park in

Malacca, Malaysia. The proposal, which has only recently come to light, is a

result of collaboration between the Indian contract testing company, Vivo Bio

Tech, and the State government-owned Melaka Biotech.

 

The coalition, which includes the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to

Animals (SPCA) Selangor, the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection

(BUAV) and the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE), which

represents animal protection organisations from 17 countries, has written to the

Government urging it not to allow this facility to go ahead on humanitarian

grounds. Also to be considered is the impact that allowing such a facility will

have upon Malaysia's international image in the world. A meeting to discuss the

coalition's objections in full has been requested.

 

Disturbingly, 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.

These include cell, tissue and organ culture; micro-organisms such as bacteria;

molecular research; studies with post-mortem tissues; computer simulations,

population studies (epidemiology) and ethical clinical research with human

volunteers.

 

Coalition spokesperson, Christine Chin, SPCA stated: " We are calling on animal

groups and others around the world to join us in urging the Government of

Malaysia to dissociate itself from a proposal that will not only involve the

suffering and death of thousands of animals every year, but also will

undoubtedly have a negative and detrimental impact on Malaysia's image

overseas. "

 

ENDS

 

For further information, please contact Jacinta Johnson, SPCA Selangor at

jacinta.spca or Telephone +60 3 4256 5312/ 3 4253 5179

or Sarah Kite at sarah.kite or Telephone +44 207 700 4888

begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +44 207 700

4888      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +44 207 700

4888      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

www.spca.org.my

www.buav.org

http://www.eceae.org/

 

 

--\

 

 

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 has joined with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to

Animals (SPCA) Selangor and the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments

(ECEAE) 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

 

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 (cc. the Prime Ministers Secretary at 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

 

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

 

- 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

 

- 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

 

- 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 (cc. to Personal Assistant at

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