The Star 14 Jun 10;
BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Penang Government will not accept any form of unethical practices leading to the cruelty of animals, said Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy.
“While the state encourages foreign and local investments to further boost Penang’s economy, it also practises caution to ensure such investments did not cause discomfort to the people and environment, including animals,” he said yesterday.
Ramasamy was commenting on a report in The Star on Saturday about a facility believed to be using animals for testing in Seberang Prai that had been operating for the past three years.
Animal lovers were up in arms recently over the setting up of a proposed animal testing laboratory in Malacca.
The company, Progenix Research Sdn Bhd, said on its website that it is an independent contract research organisation offering toxicology services to worldwide pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, agrochemical and others.
The website added that it conducts canine toxicology tests on beagles, and on monkeys from the cynomolgus macaque and/or rhesus macaque as well as tests on rodents and rabbits.
Beagles were used in pre-clinical toxicity testing of pharmaceuticals and certain chemicals such as agrochemicals and biocides at the RM52mil facility at the Penang Science Park, Bukit Minyak.
