KUCHING: The unanimous passing of the Protection of Public Health (Amendment) Bill 2024 by the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Tuesday has left business owner Janet Then deeply puzzled.
The amendments notably include a provision prohibiting animals or pets from entering any food premises.
"This is the one and only pet cafe we have (in Kuching). I've been running it for 10 years, then they come up with this. It is really disappointing," she said in an interview.
She emphasised that her cafe maintains a strict separation between the area for cats and the space where food is served.
Furthermore, all cats in her establishment are regularly vaccinated and receive attentive care from their dedicated veterinarian.
The cafe has garnered attention not only for its concept but also for its efforts to promote mental health tourism through animal-assisted therapy.
Tourists from China, Japan, Spain, Singapore, Germany, Australia, France and Italy have been drawn to the establishment.
"If it's going to bite people or I'm giving people problems, I would have to close early already. People would report me," she added.
Anna Wee, the founder of a dog park, weighed in on the matter, asserting that the responsibility for preventing health hazards and ensuring cleanliness primarily lies with general food handling practices in kitchens, which are subject to regular inspections by council enforcement units.
She argued that imposing a blanket ban on animals in eateries with the passing of the Bill was unnecessary, particularly for establishments like dog and cat cafes, which serve as safe spaces for patrons to interact with pets.
Wee said dog and cat cafes were select eateries and should not be forced to close as they serve as safe spaces for customers to socialise with pets.
"Such establishments should be exempted from a generic blanket ban but it is up to business owners and entrepreneurs to decide their market niche," she said.
She proposed the creation of a separate licensing framework for these establishments and advocated for the extension of the Animal Welfare Act to Sarawak.
She also called for measures such as mandatory neutering of all dogs to manage stray populations humanely and urged the enactment of legislation to criminalise animal abandonment, cruelty and neglect.
Wee highlighted that, given the population's different ethnic and cultural backgrounds and historical background, Sarawak has the chance to set itself apart by enacting laws that strike a balance between community preferences, social acceptance, and public health.