KUCHING: Sarawak plans to establish a veterinary school in Semenggoh to address the shortage of veterinarians and support the state’s livestock industry development.
Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the proposed veterinary school would be located in Semenggoh, an area previously associated with veterinary services.
Sagah said the facility would include an animal hospital, with hopes of attracting students from across ASEAN or at least within Borneo.
“Because under vet school, they must have a hospital. It’s not just humans who must have a hospital. Even animals must have a hospital,” he said at the 11th Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) Triennial General Assembly (TGA) welcoming dinner on Friday night (May 8).
Sagah noted that there was currently no veterinary school in Borneo, with many students previously travelling to Bandung in Indonesia to pursue veterinary studies.
“In Borneo also, I think, there’s also no vet school. The only one they used to go is Bandung, which is in Java. Far away. So we need one here,” he said.
He said Sarawak still needed more veterinarians to support the livestock and agriculture sectors.
Sagah noted that the number of veterinarians in government service had improved from only a few previously, but more expertise was still needed to support the state’s long-term development plans.
He added that many veterinarians in Sarawak had moved into private practice due to strong demand, while some veterinary clinics were relying on graduates from Indonesia because of the shortage of local talent.
Sagah said the initiative aligned with Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg ’s vision of strengthening the livestock industry in areas such as Serian, Bau and Lundu.
“He wants to see that Serian is like New Zealand, where there are more livestock than humans,” he said.
Sagah said countries such as New Zealand, Argentina and Australia had demonstrated how livestock industries could become major economic drivers when supported by skilled manpower and proper infrastructure.
