S'wak's first veterinary institute in Semenggok set to address vet shortage in state
Dr Rundi speaks to reporters at the PPES Ternak Sdn Bhd Halal Abattoir Complex. – Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING (June 5): Sarawak's first-ever veterinary institute is now in its final stages of planning and approval, marking a significant milestone in the state's push to strengthen its livestock and animal health services.
State Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the veterinary school, which will be located in Semenggok, is a crucial step in addressing the chronic shortage of veterinarians in the state.
'We only have 15 veterinarians in Sarawak. I went to Brazil – they have 4,000 there.
'So bear with us because we are doing our best (to address the shortage),' he said when met during a working visit to the PPES Ternak Sdn Bhd Halal Abattoir Complex in Siburan, here today.
Dr Rundi revealed that the establishment of the veterinary institute is in collaboration with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), particularly through its Bintulu campus, following in-principle agreement with the university.
According to him, having a dedicated veterinary faculty in Sarawak will allow the state to train its own experts and reduce reliance on external manpower, especially from neighbouring countries.
Nevertheless, he said Sarawak in the short term may still need to source veterinarians from Indonesia or Peninsular Malaysia to make up for the current shortage.
He also noted that once operational, the Semenggok-based institute will be able to produce around 50 veterinary graduates annually, greatly enhancing the state's capacity to provide animal healthcare and support its growing agriculture sector.
Dr Rundi also informed that he, together with Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, have been invited to an event with UPM at the end of this month.
'There, we will officially take on UPM Bintulu as Sarawak's UPM. Even the Sultan of Selangor, who is UPM Chancellor, has shown strong support for this initiative,' he said.
He said with UPM Sarawak in place, the accreditation process for the institute will be much easier.
'In principle, we've more or less finalised everything. We are working on the financing and other logistics.'
The plan to establish such an institute in Sarawak was first discussed as early as 2022, with the state government viewing it as a key priority to improve food security, zoonotic disease control, and workforce development in animal-related industries.
Dr Rundi said with neighbouring Sabah having more veterinarians than Sarawak, it became clear that Sarawak needed to build its own capacity to match and eventually improve its veterinary services.
The new institute, when completed, will be only the third of its kind in Malaysia after UPM Serdang and Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, and the first such faculty in Borneo.
It will offer both Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and Diploma in Animal Health and Husbandry (DKHP) programmes, with an expected intake of 50 and 70 students respectively each year.
'This is not just about numbers. Once we have our own university and institute, we can plan for what Sarawak truly needs in forestry, agriculture, and manpower.
'We take control of our future,' said Dr Rundi.
Also present during the visit were Dr Rundi's deputy minister Datuk Martin Ben, and Sarawak Economic Development Corporation chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain. Dr Stephen Rundi Utom lead semenggok veterinary institute
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