English
Proposed construction of primate testing facility in Johar, Malaysia

07 July 2009

Animals Asia is aware of, and very concerned about, negotiations currently taking place with foreign research companies to establish a primate research facility in Johor, Malaysia using captive-bred long-tail macaques (Macaca fascicularis) imported from overseas.

We have added our support to several international animal-welfare and conservation organisations campaigning to prevent the development of this facility including the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, the International Primate Protection League and The Monkey Sanctuary Trust

The following information has been provided by the BUAV:
The BUAV is concerned that European research companies, in an effort to avoid the growing public criticism of animal-experimentation and attempts to impose stricter restrictions on the use of primates within the European Union, may be looking to set up primate facilities in countries where restrictions may be more lax. This appears to be the case in Malaysia in that there is apparently no legislation governing the use of animals in research.

It has been stated that the monkeys used in the new facility will not be taken from the wild. Instead they are likely to come from "breeding" facilities in countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia and China. However, there are already many concerns regarding the validity of so-called "captive-breeding" facilities in these countries. It may also be the case that the monkeys will be from facilities which are permitted to re-stock their breeders with monkeys captured from the wild. In any case, many breeding facilities use captive-born animals, known as F1 generation, who are primates where one or both parents have been captured from the wild. Therefore, even if the new facility itself will not be using wild-caught monkeys, it will almost certainly be contributing indirectly to the capture and trade in wild monkeys.

Malaysia recently made the decision to not allow the export of its own indigenous population of macaques for research purposes. We believe it is, therefore, inconsistent that Malaysia now appears to be considering allowing a foreign company to establish a facility that will then import macaques from other countries.

The use of non-human primates in research is being questioned internationally, most recently in the European Union, by scientists as well as others. The establishment of a primate facility in Malaysia will simply encourage further use of these animals at a time when their use is being challenged. We urge Malaysia to put an end to these negotiations and to not allow itself to be part of an industry that inflicts such great suffering on our primate cousins.

Animals Asia has sent letters of protest to the Malaysian government officials listed. A copy of the letter is below. Please send courteous letters to the Malaysian government officials and embassies in your country calling for an end to these negotiations:

1) En. Saharudin bin Anan
Director
Legislation and Enforcement Division
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP)
Jabatan PERHILITAN
KM. 10 Jalan Cheras
56100 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

Fax: +603-9075 2873
E-mail saharudin@wildlife.gov.my

2) En. A. Razak Majid
Director
Department Of Wildlife And National Parks, Johor
Tingkat 9 Blok B, Wisma Persekutuan, Jalan Air Molek,
80000 Johor Baru,
Johor
Malaysia

Fax: + 603 7223 5702
E-mail : johor@wildlife.gov.my

3) Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak
Prime Minister's Office,
Main Block,
Perdana Putra Building,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 Putrajaya
Malaysia

Fax : + 603-8888 3444
E-Mail: ppm@pmo.gov.my

Comments can also be left on the Prime Minister's Office website: http://www.pmo.gov.my/?page=1888&menu=feedback

4) Write to the Embassy of Malaysia in your country. See web link for details:
http://www.kln.gov.my/?page=mission


 

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Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak
Prime Minister's Office
Main Block,
Perdana Putra Building,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 Putrajaya
Malaysia

July 2009

Your Excellency,

The undersigned organizations jointly call on the Malaysian government to halt the proposed development of a primate research facility in Johor.

As international animal protection organisations representing over 100,000 supporters globally, we are writing to register our protest following news of the proposed development of a primate research facility in Johor.

We understand that negotiations are currently taking place with a number of research companies, including a French company, for a facility to be established using captive-bred long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) imported from nearby countries.

The negotiations reported to be underway coincide with the revision of the European Union Directive that legislates animal testing across Europe. We are concerned the establishment of a primate testing facility in Malaysia may be an attempt to circumvent attempts to place tighter restrictions on the use of primates in the EU. The establishment of a primate facility in Malaysia will encourage further use of these animals just at a time when this practice is being challenged internationally.

Our sources inform us that this plan is being justified on conservation grounds by claims that the monkeys used in the new facility will not be taken from the wild, but will instead come from breeding farms in countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia and China. However, we, and other welfare and conservation groups, are already extremely concerned by these ‘captive-breeding’ facilities, many of which capture monkeys from the wild to sell and use their offspring for research, thereby still posing a threat to wild populations.

We would like to congratulate the Malaysian government for the recent decision not to allow the export of its own indigenous population of macaques for research purposes. Thus, we are extremely disappointed at the prospect that the government may allow a foreign company to do the very same with macaques imported from neighbouring countries; a move that would be inconsistent with this policy.

We urge Malaysia to distance itself from this industry which inflicts such great damage on the world’s remaining primate populations.

Thank you for your time.

Yours sincerely,

David Neale
Animal Welfare Director
Animals Asia Foundation
Tel: 00 44 (0) 1579 347148
Fax: 00 44 (0) 1579 347343
Email: dneale@animalsasia.org
Web: www.animalsasia.org

Brooke Aldrich
Campaigns Officer & Primate Carer
The Monkey Sanctuary Trust
The Monkey Sanctuary
Looe, Cornwall, England, PL13 1NZ
Tel / Fax: 00 44 (0) 1503 262532
Email: brooke_aldrich@monkeysanctuary.org
Web: www.monkeysanctuary.org

 

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