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

 

July 2009