BATU PAHAT: The Johor state government has launched a large-scale operation to capture stray dogs in the district after a two-year-old girl was attacked by five dogs in Kampung Tambak, Peserai, recently.
Johor Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid said the coordinated operation was carried out to ensure that the stray dogs were free from rabies, thereby easing the concerns of the victim's family and medical team.
"On behalf of the Johor state government, we have ordered a large-scale operation to capture stray dogs in the area, particularly to identify and ensure that the strays are free from rabies, for the safety of the victim," he said in a press conference at Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) here on Tuesday (Sept 8).
He said the Batu Pahat District Office began follow-up capture operations yesterday in collaboration with the Batu Pahat Municipal Council, Veterinary Services Department and the police.
The follow-up operation followed three jointly conducted operations by the Municipal Council and The Veterinary Department on Aug 12, 26 and 30, which resulted in the capture of 22 stray dogs. However, the number of strays in the area remained high.
For the operation to be effective, Mohd Fared urged the agencies involved not to rely solely on existing methods, but to diversify their approaches, including through monitoring and surveillance.
"Based on the guidance and advice from the parents earlier, we believe that the capture methods must continue to be diversified. I urge the local authorities, district office, municipal council and Veterinary Services Department to use all methods and means available.
"Strategies must be diversified, including monitoring operations, surveillance and any other methods permitted by law," he said.
He said the stern action would also be expanded to all districts in the state following an instruction by State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor to all local authorities to expedite operations to control stray animals.
To ease the burden on the victim's family, Mohd Fared said the Johor state government is fully committed to covering all medical and follow-up treatment costs for the victim at HSA, as well as providing counselling services to family members, particularly the victim's 12-year-old brother who witnessed the incident.
Mohd Fared also appealed to the public to delete and stop sharing photographs of the victim on social media to protect the family's privacy, and has sought the cooperation of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to take down related posts.
Earlier, Mohd Fared spent time visiting the victim, Nur Haira Wafiqah Mohammad Hamizi, 2, and her family, and received an update on Nur Haira Wafiqah's treatment at HSA.
On Sunday, the media reported the stray dog attack, which left the victim with serious injuries.
Meanwhile, the victim's mother, Nur Wahyuni Harun, 36, said her 12-year-old son was traumatised after witnessing the incident and has been given two weeks' leave from school to undergo counselling.
She said her youngest daughter remained sedated and had undergone her first surgery to treat the injuries sustained and was still under medical observation. – Bernama
