Animal-Testing Centre To Be Set Up In Malaysia

Animal-testing centre to be set up in Malaysia

- A RM450 million deal has been signed between a large Indian biotechnology company and State government-owned Melaka Biotech Holdings Sdn Bhd this year. The State will soon see 3 animal-experimentation laboratories set up in Rembia in Alor Gajah.

Photo from MalayMail Online

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Malacca Biotech, Indian Biotechnology firm Vivo BioTech Limited and Vanguard Creative Technologies Sdn Bhd on Jan 21 in India. A joint-venture company, Vivo Bio Tech (M) Sdn Bhd was set up to facilitate this multi billion ringgit project, in which India's Vivo BioTech would hold majority equity, followed by Vanguard Creative and Melaka Biotech.

The MoU was inked in New Delhi by representatives of Vivo BioTech and Vanguard as well as by Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, witnessed by Najib.

But as yet, no notice or application of permit has been made with the Peninsular Malaysia Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) and the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS).

Vivo Bio Tech (Malaysia) director Datuk Kuna Sittampalam stated that the proposed fully integrated biotechnology centre was still in its "early days" as the company has yet to submit building plans to the local council.

He said the company will be importing Beagles from Holland for tests requiring canines, and most probably white mice for the small animal laboratory. He wasn’t sure where they will get the primates from, "Most will be obtained locally, but if we are not allowed, then we will look overseas.

"This is a US$50 billion (RM170 billion) industry and Malaysia wants to be a part of this," said Sittampalam. Not all tests can be replicated using human tissue culture in place of animals, he said, and explained that animal-testing is a small segment of the whole biotechnology process and people must look at the "bigger picture".

Animal Testing

Animal testing helps in making safe products before launched for human consumption

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No animals should suffer for the sake of vanity and they have the equal right to live as human beings

Animal testing is the use of animals in scientific experiments by universities, pharmaceutical companies and medical schools. Most animals used for research are breed for the specific purpose of testing and some animals used for testing are captured from the wild. Some animal testing is done for basic research such as behaviour studies and genetics while other major animal testing is done for the benefit of humans. This research includes drug testing, surgical procedures, medical equipments, and somewhat inconsequential applications like; cosmetics, and other household products. Most animals that are used for researched are euthanized once the experiment is finished.

In certain countries, the law specifies that a new drug should essentially be tested on at least two different species of live mammal, one of which must be a large non-rodent. Even though the some Animals Act specifies that there should be no animal experiments conducted if there is a realistic alternative and yet, almost every medication in the market has been tested on animals.

Those who support animal testing point out all the amazing breakthroughs that have already come from animal testing research such as organ transplant and open-heart surgery techniques; life saving drugs; effective insulin and cancer treatments; and vaccines for deadly diseases like polio, rabies, rubella, and tuberculosis. Animal testing also benefits the lives of animals such as the heartworm medicine that has saved many dogs lives.

The basic argument from the animal rights activists is that under the disguise of these tests the animals are genetically modified, force-fed with harmful chemicals, blinded, scalded and are mimed. This is nothing but animal abuse or animal cruelty. They also propose that alternatives available to animal experimentation such as chemical assay tests, tissue, cell and organ culture systems, cloned human skin cells and patches, computer and mathematical models be employed, which they think, will produce more effective results as that of animal testing.

Research reveals that only 5 to 25% of the animal tests and human results are agreeable! Most of the drugs passed by animal tests are now discarded as useless to humans. The conditions under which the animals are subjected to human experimentation have caused tumours in rodents, while the animal test results were declared to be of little relevance for humans. The only explanation being offered for this declaration is the fact that there are anatomical and physiological differences between animals and humans. It is important to note that although animals are almost always used in cancer research, they never get the human form of cancer which affects membranes like the lungs. Most medical experts agree that data from animal tests cannot be extrapolated safely to human patients.

Somehow, it is pretty much impossible to ‘untest’ a particular drug. Animal testing will continue to confuse all issues although there is no basic connection between animal testing and the human health. The general belief in the goodness of animal testing is basically the result of brainwashing that the general public has been subjected to for a long, long time. Behind these torturous practices are the pharmaceutical companies that spend billions of dollars on financing and publicizing the research universities and institutes.

We, whom categorized ourselves as human, are systematically cutting down the last forest that provides their shelter to farm cattle; dump toxic chemicals and sewage into the waters in which they live; wear the fur of the last few of their species on our bodies, and now pour cosmetic products into their rectums to determine the harmful effects they might cause on humans.

God bless everyone…

This article was published in PETSTER Magazine Issue#24, Page 28 & 29

http://petstermagazine.com/Petster%20Magazine%20Issue%2024.pdf