SERDANG, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) today signed a Joint Statement to strengthen strategic cooperation in animal health management, biodiversity conservation and zoonotic disease control through One Health.
The Joint Statement document exchange ceremony was held in conjunction with the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (MAHA 2026) at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park (MAEPS), here today.
Veterinary Services director-general Datuk Dr Mohd Noor Hisham Mohd Haron said the collaboration involving the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) would be the main platform for planning, implementing and monitoring more structured activities.
He said that through the One Health approach, both agencies recognised that human, animal and environmental health were an interrelated system, especially when faced with the increasingly close and complex interactions between wildlife, livestock and humans.
"The combination of DVS's expertise in veterinary and disease control with PERHILITAN's expertise in wildlife management and ecology provides a better basis for understanding risks and determining appropriate and effective actions.
"We will strengthen the control of zoonotic diseases and diseases of concern such as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), African Swine Fever (ASF), rabies and Nipah through field monitoring, sampling and laboratory testing," he said during the ceremony.
Also present at the ceremony were KPKM deputy secretary-general (development), Datuk Luqman Ahmad, NRES deputy secretary-general (natural resources) Datuk Khalid Mohamed and PERHILITAN deputy director-general (conservation) Datuk Fakhrul Hatta Musa.
Mohd Noor Hisham said this step is important to enhance preparedness to face cross-border diseases as well as emergency situations and natural disasters such as floods, landslides and forest fires that can affect animal habitats and welfare.
At the same time, he said that the integration of veterinary expertise also focused on the conservation, rehabilitation and translocation of endangered animals such as the Malayan Tiger, elephant, tapir and seladang before being relocated or released back into their natural habitat.
"This collaboration strengthens the management of human-wildlife conflicts through expert support for capture, relocation and safety guidance, while ongoing training and joint risk assessments will be implemented to enhance staff competencies," he said.
In an era driven by data and technology, Mohd Noor Hisham said the integration of information related to animal health, population distribution and environmental factors will support the evidence-based decision-making process.
"The strength of the agency does not only lie in the amount of data it possesses, but in its joint ability to translate it into evidence-based knowledge and action to strengthen the implementation of its respective responsibilities.
"I also hope that this structured and continuous collaboration can contribute to the protection of public health, strengthening the livestock industry and the sustainability of the country's biodiversity as a whole," he said.
The 14th edition of MAHA will take place for 10 days from August 28 to September 6. It is a biennial event and is the main platform for the country's agricultural sector, bringing together industry players, government agencies, entrepreneurs, research and higher education institutions to highlight innovation, technology and business opportunities in the agri-food sector.
-- BERNAMA