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Stop Live Transport: International Awareness Day

  • Publication Date | June 13, 2018
  • Document Type | Media Statement
  • Programmes | Forests & Biodiversity
  • Issues | Animal Welfare, Biodiversity
  • Tags | animal export trade, livestock transport
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June 14th is Stop Live Transport International Awareness Day.

SAM welcomes the Malaysian government’s move in stating that regulations will soon be in place to ensure livestock and poultry like chicken, ducks, pigs and cattle will be transported safely without them being harmed.

This was a recent announcement by the Malaysian Veterinary Services Department (DVS) Director- general Datuk Dr Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam. Currently regulations are being drawn up on space requirements for animals on vehicles, number of cages permitted, proper ventilation, distance covered, feed requirements and others in the regulation of the  live export industry.  

In line with animal welfare groups around the world, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is bringing attention to the live transport of animals. Livestock are transported millions of miles by sea or by road across the world like cargo.

Lengthy voyages can be a death sentence. Sheep risk a slow death from starvation, illness, and injury after weeks on ships. Cows can emerge caked in excrement and in some parts of the world bodies of discarded dead animals can be found washed up on local beaches.

The transport of animals is one of the most stressful activities forced onto animals and there is no doubt millions suffer to varying degrees in myriad ways.  Tragically the one thing worse than these journeys is what will happen to these animals at their destination—they will be horrifically killed for their meat. 

A live animal is not a sack of potatoes; it breathes, it thinks, and it can suffer.  But to the live animal export trade, this suffering is just a cost of doing business. Health experts are urging people to eat less meat. Additionally, the United Nations has called for a substantial worldwide diet change away from animal products in order to avoid global environmental devastation. Livestock export companies are pushing for the exact opposite while subjecting animals to extreme cruelty. 

The other area of concern is the different mode of transport. The transport of animals by sea is undertaken in many areas of the world and there has been no regard for the welfare of animals transported for many years.

The unfortunate incident involving 57,000 Australian sheep stranded aboard the livestock transport ship MV Como Express for more than two weeks in 2003 after the shipment was rejected by Saudi Arabia  remains fresh in everyone’s mind today.

Transport by lorry is common but not much thought has been given to livestock while lorries are being loaded or unloaded which can last an hour or more, or when they are stuck in the traffic, or when the drivers have a break. Very little can be done when the lorries get stuck on the motor way with the animals exposed to the scorching heat of the sun. 

In many Asian countries very little is known about the attitudes toward animal welfare from  the people working within the industry. There have been no comprehensive studies of the attitudes of different industry stakeholders toward livestock welfare during transport and slaughter.

Long distance live animal transport may also facilitate the spread of animal pathogens with the potential to cause human disease. For example, the Nipah virus emerged in 1998 on an industrial pig farm in Malaysia to become one of the deadliest of human pathogens causing relapsing brain infections and killing 40% of those infected. The disease which erupted in the northern part of the Malaysian peninsula was amplified when pigs were trucked nationwide. The further the animals are transported, the further the diseases can spread.                                                        

There are risks and dangers of transporting animals over long distances. There are hundreds of more disasters that have not made headline news where animals suffer terribly and no one is held accountable; whether it be from neglect, foul weather, delays at borders or vessel breakdown, the suffering is immense.

The Guardian reported that in April 2017, almost 100 out of 1,236 cattle died on an eight-day trip from Darwin to Malaysia and Brunei; 90 were euthanised as a result of shipping. It was the first voyage of a new livestock vessel which has now had its Australian certificate revoked. The ship cannot be used for export again until it obtains a valid certificate. The mortality rate of 7.79%, exceeded the reportable level of 0.5% for voyages less than 10 days. 

This calls for global awakening to the suffering of livestock during long distance journeys. It is unethical and illogical to force animals to suffer in the live export trade.  

S M Mohamed Idris

President

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Testimonials

Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah satu badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang telah sekian lama berjuang mempertahan kelestarian alam. Ia juga mendidik masyarakat tentang pentingnya kebersamaan dalam pemikiran dan tindakan agar alam ini dapat kita wariskan kepada generasi hadapan dalam keadaan yang elok dan terpelihara. Dalam pada itu juga SAM giat membantu golongan nelayan pantai dalam memperjuangkan hak-hak mereka sehinggalah tertubuhnya Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING). Nelayan pantai sepenuh masa ini dididik oleh SAM sehingga mereka mampu memainkan peranan sebagai pemimpin nelayan yang meneruskan kesinambungan memperjuangkan hak-hak nelayan pantai lainnya. Sebagai contoh SAM telah berjaya menyedarkan masyarakat nelayan keperluan menjaga hutan paya bakau untuk kebaikan hasil tangkapan nelayan itu sendiri.
Jamaluddin Mohamad Bualik
Jamaluddin Mohamad BualikPersatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Jaringan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING)
During the 1980s, I used to read about the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) in the news. After retirement, some time in 2001, while lazing around, I read news about the construction of a carbon in leach plant using sodium cyanide to extract gold in Bukit Koman. My friends and I visited CAP and we were introduced to SAM and her legal team. We discussed the details of filing a case against the gold mining company and the department of environment with Ms Meenakshi Raman and her legal team. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between lawyers from SAM and many of us from Bukit Koman. We had many ups and downs in our struggle to shut down the gold mine that was causing a nuisance in our village. But, as a community we never gave up because SAM had our backs.
Hue Fui How
Hue Fui HowSecretary, Bukit Koman Ban Cyanide in Goldmining Action Committee (BCAC)
Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah sebuah NGO yang memperjuangkan nasib masyarakat luar bandar khasnya. SAM menerima aduan-aduan masyarakat dan menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi. SAM telah mewujudkan ramai aktivis-aktivis sosial dan alam sekitar. Pada era 1980 dan 90an SAM sangat dihormati oleh masyarakat dan agensi kerajaan. Apabila media sosial menguasai maklumat maka SAM pun terkesan dan masalah masyarakat terus disalurkan dengan pelbagai cara. SAM perlu mewujudkan aktivis-aktivis pelapis yang muda untuk terus membantu masyarakat. SAM juga perlu membuat perubahan supaya banyak turun kelapangan dan jangan mengharapkan laporan media sahaja. Tingkatkan prestasi sebagaimana pada zaman kegemilangan SAM di era 80-90an.
Che Ani Mt Zain
Che Ani Mt Zain
SAM taught me the importance of social activism and the role it plays in upholding the rights of people and the protection of the environment. In my experience, SAM has never hesitated to speak up in defence of people and their environment, and has gone the extra mile to champion their rights, by helping communities take their battles to the higher ups and even to the courts.
Jessica Binwani
Jessica BinwaniPublic/Private Interest Lawyer
Semenjak kami kenal SAM, banyak pengalaman dan pengetahuan yg kami dapat. Kami telah belajar cara membuat baja asli daripada SAM. Semenjak itu, bermulalah minat kami dalam aktiviti pertanian. Dengan memperolehi kemahiran dalam membuat baja asli dan penanaman lestari, kami juga telah dapat menambahkan pendapatan sampingan kami. Ini lebih baik daripada tanah kami terbiar dan tidak diusahakan. Terima kasih SAM kerana sudi memberi bantuan dan tunjuk ajar kepada Persatuan kami.
Chedo Anak Nyuwen
Chedo Anak NyuwenPersatuan Penduduk Sg Buri, Bakong, Marudi
My journey with SAM started when her community organisers took me to the meet the paddy farmers of Kedah, connecting my growing interest in environmental law with our people who struggle to work the land in the face of pollution, replacement of traditional seeds with commercial hybrids and their accompanying chemical package of fertilisers and weedicides. I then had the honour to work with SAM in the struggle for the rights of the native communities of Sarawak, in defence of their forests from massive logging and destructive mega-projects. In every issue that SAM takes up, she combines rigorous research with the realities and voices of the communities to advocate for policies and laws that care for people and nature. From the courts to the elected legislators to policy makers and implementers and to the United Nations, SAM walks side by side with the communities in Malaysia. How can I not be inspired by the vision and passion of the generations of women and men who coalesce to form SAM?
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Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Headquarters)
No. 1, Jalan Joki, 11400 Penang,
Malaysia
Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Marudi Office)
129A, First Floor,
Jalan Tuanku Taha,
P.O.Box 216,
98058 Marudi, Baram, Sarawak,
Malaysia
Tel & Fax: +6085 758 973

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