Just 10 govt vets in Sarawak now, shortage fuels need for Semenggok vet school

File photo for illustration purposes. Photo credit: Pixabay

By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, May 9: Sarawak’s push to develop its own veterinary school in Semenggok is being driven by a critical shortage of veterinarians in the State, with only about 10 currently serving in government service.

Sarawak Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the shortage remains a key challenge despite improvements over the years.

“At one time, we only had about three veterinarians in government service. Now it has increased to around 10. It is much better, but still not enough. That is why we want to start a vet school,” he said when speaking at the official opening of the 11th Triennial General Assembly (TGA) 2026 of the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) at its headquarters in Kuching last night (May 8).

He noted that Malaysia currently has only two veterinary schools — at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Serdang and Universiti Malaysia Kelantan — which are insufficient to meet national and regional demand, particularly for Borneo.

Sagah said this gap reinforces the need for Sarawak to develop its own veterinary training hub under Universiti Putra Malaysia Sarawak (UPMS), with Semenggok identified as the proposed location due to its historical role in veterinary and agricultural research at 12th Mile.

He said academic matters for the proposed institution would fall under his ministry, while infrastructure development would be handled by the Sarawak Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (MFICORD), specifically under Deputy Minister for Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Martin Ben.

“We hope to attract students from all over ASEAN, or at least from within Borneo. As far as I know, there is no veterinary school in Borneo, and previously students had to go as far as Bandung, Indonesia. That is very far. So we need one here,” he added.

He also linked the initiative to Sarawak’s broader agricultural ambitions, including the development of livestock hubs in Serian, Bau and Lundu, which the State hopes to transform into high-output farming areas.

“The Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has challenged us to see Serian become like New Zealand, where livestock numbers exceed human population. It is possible if we build the right ecosystem,” he said.

He also acknowledged that many veterinary graduates in Sarawak have moved into private practice due to better earnings, while some clinics continue to rely on foreign graduates, particularly from Indonesia, to meet manpower needs.

“Why? Because they make more money. But this also reflects the shortage we are facing,” he emphasised. — DayakDaily