‘Today we develop oral rabies vaccine, maybe boost buffalo reproduction next?’ — Premier

From fifth left: Uggah, Awang Tengah, Abang Johari, Fadillah and Dr Sim, with other dignitaries during the Sarawakku Sayang Programme in Limbang on April 11, 2026. Photo credit: Public Works Department (JKR).

By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, April 11: Sarawak is already developing an oral rabies vaccine for dogs, with future research potentially extending to innovations to improve buffalo reproduction, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

He said the oral rabies vaccine being developed by local researchers does not require injection, but is instead delivered through a food-based formulation that is attractive to dogs.

“The vaccine is mixed with a medicine that makes dogs want to eat it, like sweets. When the dog sees it, it will just eat it.

“Once it is consumed, it enters the dog’s body and helps eliminate the germs that cause rabies,” he said when speaking during the Sarawakku Sayang programme in Limbang, broadcast live on YouTube by the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS).

He noted that such biotechnology efforts may extend beyond rabies in the future, joking that similar research could even lead to solutions that improve livestock reproduction.

“Maybe in the future there could be a medicine that helps buffalo reproduce more. As mentioned by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan earlier, you may have a new capsule that improves the health of buffalo so they can reproduce more.

“These are the kinds of studies we are talking about. That is why we need biologists,” he added.

According to Abang Johari, Sarawak already has key research institutions such as the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) and the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC), which are expected to attract more young Sarawakians into scientific fields.

He also highlighted the establishment of a Fudan University branch campus in Miri, approved by the federal government, which will support medical research combining herbal-based knowledge with Western medicine, including cancer studies.

Referring to Sarawak’s biodiversity potential, Abang Johari said ongoing studies are being conducted on natural resources that may have medicinal value, including claims that certain plants in Ba’Kelalan could potentially have cancer-fighting properties.

Also present during the Sarawakku Sayang programme were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof and wife Datin Amar Ruziah Tahir; Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian; and Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki and wife Dato Baduyah Bujang. — DayakDaily