Chief Minister, You Just Haven't A Clue, Have You?

aNt's aNgle:

Malacca's Ali Rustam was damn right about one thing in his speech to the press today: He certainly doesn't have the foggiest!

And it is for this very reason why the Chief Minister of the state badly needs to sit down for a serious powwow with animal rights and welfare groups asap.

It is time for anyone to start worrying when a Chief Minister comes out in the open and declares that he has no clue as to why people are against animal-testing in this day and age!

Has he not heard about how the world's awareness levels have been raised about the need to respect animal rights and share some space with them in our planet?

Has he not heard about the immemorial saying of India's legendary spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi: "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated"?

 

Or what about the news that is happening right now as I write this about how Australia is taking Japan to the International Court for its whaling practices?  (Read the story here)

And, by the way, sir - if it is NOT OKAY for tests to be done on humans (in your own words), how can it ever be permissible for animals?

All right. Let me be totally honest and say this: as I write this, I am not sure if every single animal testing is wrong. Perhaps some may be necessary?

However, what I clearly do know is that animal-testing is undergoing tremendous scrutiny these days. Many of them are conducted downright cruelly, others are totally unnecessary.

Has the Chief Minister considered the ethical factors surrounding the issues at all? 

Using the argument of trying to create a healthier society is a trap by itself. No one is perfect, to start off with. 

Many disabled people, for instance, are more interested in getting on with their lives in normal living that to spend exorbitant and unnecessary money in sand castles.

Ali Rustam's comments will no doubt elicit many responses from animal-lovers and NGOs alike that will be interesting to watch. 

PET+BLOGSPOT   

  

Ali Rustam: Drug testing on animals a God-given right. Story by Malaysiakini's Joseph Sipalan.


Malacca Chief Minister Ali Rustam today defended the state government's decision to allow the establishment of a multi-million ringgit biotechnology centre that will feature several animal testing laboratories.

He said there was nothing wrong with Malaysia having such a facility because the rest of the world was doing the same.

"In Islam, God made animals as food and for the use of man. How can you not test on animals? Would you rather run the tests on humans?

“That is (the animal's) fate," he told reporters in Petaling Jaya today, after his get-together with his Facebook fans and supporters.

He was commenting on opposition by animal rights groups to set up the labs in Rembia, Alor Gajah.

Last month, Malay Mail reported that the labs would be set up by Vivo BioTech (M) Sdn Bhd, which is a joint venture between India's Vivo BioTech Lrd and Vanguard Creative Technologies Sdn Bhd.

Activists are 'day dreamers'

The company plans import beagles from Holland for use in their canine laboratory while white mice would be used in the small animals lab and, if allowed, primates would be sourced locally.

The project earned an immediate backlash from international animal rights groups, including 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).

Ali Rustam said he could not comprehend the issues raised by the activists, calling them "day dreamers" who are not in touch with reality.

He said if such tests are not conducted on monkeys, it would be impossible to determine if the drugs are safe for humans use.

“They do it to orang putih monkeys, Chinese monkeys and Indian monkeys... so what's wrong with doing it to Malaysian monkeys?

"If the world is against it, then get the United Nations to make a decision. Get the UN to say 'no' to monkey testing on earth, do it on the moon. It will become a crazy world," he said.

Activists should replace lab animals

Ali Rustam took it a step further by challenging the activists to volunteer themselves as test subjects as an alternative to drug testing on animals.

"I should call this group for a dialogue and I will ask them if they are prepared to replace the rats and monkeys. If they are, then sign (a contract).

“I don't think they want to do it," he said.

The proposed facility will be set up under joint-venture company Vivo Bio Tech (M) Sdn Bhd.

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