LAUNCHED: Abang Johari (second left) launching the new SSPCA logo at the charity gala dinner, flanked by Lee and Dona (left).
KUCHING: There is need for more educational events to create awareness on animal welfare, said Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“It is important to educate people from young on the importance of animal welfare as well as environment preservation so that when they are older, they know about loving animals and taking care of the environment. It will also encourage them to volunteer in animal welfare organisations.
“The government will definitely support such events as it will make us aware of the co-existence between us and the environment,” he said at the SSPCA charity gala dinner on Friday night.
Abang Johari commended the efforts of SSPCA in promoting animal welfare and believed it is appropriate for Kuching to host the World Animal Groove (WAG) Music Festival, which is a celebration of music to create awareness on the plight of abandoned animals and raising funds for SSPCA new animal shelter.
“Kuching is the only city in Malaysia that has a formal arrangement between the local government and an NGO to promote animal welfare.
“It is appropriate for us to host the WAG Music Festival and the government fully supports the effort to raise funds and to create awareness. The end result of such efforts would be a city free of stray animals.
“Our ministry has decided to adopt WAG as an annual event in our tourism calendar. WAG is different from other music festivals because it has something to do with passion for animals. It brings animal lovers around the world together to have a better awareness about the environment,” said the minister, who is also the patron of WAG.
SSPCA president Dona Drury-Wee acknowledged the fact that SSPCA enjoys a strong mutual relationship with the local government in promoting animal welfare.
“We have to work together in order to come up with better policies to manage strays. We hope to extend such partnership to businesses and others in the community.
“As for WAG, we hope to attract a niche market of animal lovers who will support a good cause,” she said, adding that about RM1.3 million is still needed to build the new animal shelter.
During the charity gala dinner, there was also a silent auction for five knitted soft toys, whose proceeds will go to the funds needed by SSPCA.
In addition, Abang Johari was also invited to launch the new logo for SSPCA.
Also present was Assistant Minister of Communications Datuk Lee Kim Shin.