MALAYSIA NOMINATED TO ORGANISE OIE GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON ANIMAL WELFARE

KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has been nominated to organise
the third World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Global Conference on Animal
Welfare (GCAW) here in November next year.

Veterinary Services Department Director-General Dr Abd Aziz Jamaluddin
said that the decision was reached at the ongoing general session of the OIE in
Paris which ended Friday.

Dr Abd Aziz, who represented Malaysia at the session, said that the
nomination was an honour for Malaysia, and a recognition for its efforts to
improve animal welfare in the country.

As Malaysia strives to be a developed nation, animal welfare will be one of
the significant indicators of its developed status.

"This conference will increase the awareness among the society on the
importance of managing animal welfare in Malaysia," he said in a statement
issued here Friday.


The third OIE GCAW will focus on issues such as the challenges in
implementing the OIE Animal Welfare Standards especially in the Asia, Far East
and the Oceania.

Dr Abd Aziz said that the benefit from the conference would be multifold,
including improving Malaysia's image in light of what happened recently
regarding several animal welfare issues around the country.

About 400 participants are expected to attend the conference, including
international speakers of renowned stature.

-- BERNAMA