Animal groups unite on World Day for Animals in Laboratories to stop the construction of an animal testing laboratory in Malaysia

24 APRIL 2010, KUALA LUMPUR - To mark World Day for Animals in Laboratories today, 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 Selangor 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.¡±

Action Alert
Please support the international campaign to stop the development of an animal testing laboratory in Malaysia. Join with us in opposing the development of an animal testing facility in Malacca, Malaysia. The BUAV ( www.buav.org/) , the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Selangor (www.spca.org.my) and the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE) ( www.eceae.org/) have joined forces to campaign on this issue and we need your help!

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: 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@pmo.gov.my (cc. the Prime Ministers Secretary at aziz@pmo.gov.my)


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@melaka.gov.my


Licensing Authorities
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@moa.gov.my


Minister 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@nre.gov.my


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@dvs.gov.my


Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan)
Dato' Abd. Rashid bin Samsudin
Director-General
Headquarters of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks
Km 10, Jalan Cheras
56100 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

Email: rashid@wildlife.gov.my (cc. to Personal Assistant at pakp@wildlife.gov.my)


Embassies
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:

www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-of/Malaysia

Action Alert
Please support the international campaign to stop the development of an animal testing laboratory in Malaysia