PAS slams secrecy behind release of GM mosquitoes

Harakahdaily

KUANTAN, Jan 28: PAS has joined other non-government organisations to hit out at Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for secretly allowing the government-run Institute of Medical Research (IMR) to release 6,000 genetically modified mosquitoes in Bentong, Pahang, last month.

designed to combat dengue fever, dubbed the GM mosquitoes at an uninhabited site in Bentong last December.

“The people have been caught by surprise over the news that GM mosquitoes were released in Bentong as reported by press on 26 January 2011.

"What is more shocking is the news only comes out after the ministry released it much earlier on December 21, 2010,” said PAS Vice President, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man in a statement to Harakahdaily.

Tuan Ibrahim, who is also the Pahang PAS commissioner, said his office had received many complaints with regards to the issue.

It was reported that 6,000 male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were released at an uninhabited site in Pahang to "study the dispersal and longevity of these mosquitoes in the field" and the research had concluded on January 5 this year.

In a move to calm critics, IMR assured that no new release was planned until the observation period of the first trial ended based on the guidelines given by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Earlier, several groups, including the Consumer Association of Penang (CAP), have opposed the plan to release GM mosquitoes, which the authorities said were designed to combat dengue.

'You are responsible'

Tuan Ibrahim (right) stressed that although the mosquitoes were released in an uninhabited site, the ministry should not allow the research without taking into account the views of residents around Bentong.

“The issue of releasing GM Aedes mosquitoes which has sparked international concerns - they should have at least informed the people beforehand and the ministry must be held fully responsible for any implication from the release,” he said, adding that a letter seeking explanation from the ministry was being sent.

CAP and Sahabat Alam Malaysia meanwhile have condemned the secrecy behind the release of GM Aedes mosquitoes.

“This despite statements in the press in January 2011 by senior Biosafety Department officials saying that the trials had been postponed due to bad weather,” the groups said in a joint statement.

“Given that the release of GM mosquitoes has attracted criticism, we condemn the apparently secretive manner in which the trials have been conducted. Such behaviour does not do anything to allay the public’s fears and concerns,” the statement added, and warned the agencies responsible would be fully responsible for any consequences.

http://en.harakahdaily.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2163:pas-slams-secrecy-behind-release-of-gm-mosquitoes&catid=34:primary&Itemid=56

6,000 nyamuk GM dilepaskan di Bentong

Jan 26, 11 6:13pm

Institut Penyelidikan Perubatan (IMR) telah melepaskan 6,000 nyamuk Aedes Aegypti jantan bebas kuman jenis OX513A yang diubah suai secara genetik (GM) di satu kawasan hutan tanpa penghuni berhampiran Bentong pada 21 Dis lalu untuk tujuan penyelidikan.

IMR berkata langkah itu yang bertujuan mengkaji penyebaran dan tempoh hayat nyamuk berkenaan di lapangan juga melibatkan nyamuk serupa daripada jenis liar dilepaskan di kawasan itu untuk tujuan perbandingan.

"Uji kaji itu selesai pada 5 Jan. Proses pengasapan dibuat pada 6 Jan untuk membasmi semua nyamuk berkenaan dan pemantauan akan diterus dibuat hingga dua bulan jika perlu," kata institut itu dalam satu kenyataan.

IMR berkata pelepasan nyamuk itu ditunda dari jadual asalnya kerana keadaan cuaca yang tidak mengizinkan.

Ia juga berkata tiada pelepasan baru dirancang sehinggalah tempoh pemantaun pasca percubaan selesai dilaksanakan mengikut garis panduan Kementerian Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar.

Hasilnya dibuat analisis dan disiarkan dalam jurnal sains serta mesyuarat untuk diulas oleh pihak berkepentingan.

Uji kaji itu dijalankan selepas penilaian secara menyeluruh dibuat tentang nyamuk berkenaan di makmal IMR dan penelitian ketat dilakukan terhadap aplikasi yang digunakan.

http://malaysiakini.com/news/154572

Uji kaji nyamuk transgenik ditangguh akibat bantahan

Uji kaji nyamuk transgenik ditangguh akibat bantahan

Jan 4, 11 4:41pm

Pelaksanaan uji kaji lapangan bagi nyamuk jantan transgenik, iaitu nyamuk yang diubah suai secara genetik bagi mengawal populasi nyamuk aedes di negara ini telah ditangguhkan berikutan bantahan daripada pakar alam sekitar, lapor AFP.

Dalam uji kaji yang pertama seumpamanya di Asia, 4,000-6,000 nyamuk Aedes aegypti sepatutnya dilepaskan bulan lalu bagi memerangi denggi yang telah mengorbankan 134 orang di Malaysia tahun lalu.

Serangga berkenaan diubah suai secara genetik agar anak nyamuk berkenaan akan mati dengan segera - teknik yang diharap dapat mengawal jumlah nyamuk itu.

Spesis betina Aedes adalah yang bertanggungjawab menyebarkan denggi.

Cadangan uji kaji itu bagaimanapun menerima pelbagai bantahan daripada kumpulan alam sekitar dan mereka menuntut ia ditangguhkan kerana nyamuk GM itu dikhuatiri mungkin gagal menghalang denggi dan mempunyai kesan sebaliknya.

Terima 30 maklum balas

Seorang pegawai kanan dari Jabatan Keselamatan Bio memberitahu AFP uji kaji yang sepatutnya dilaksanakan di dua negeri itu telah ditangguhkan sementara menunggu perbincangan dengan penduduk yang terbabit.

"Terdapat banyak protes. Kita sekarang mensasarkan uji kaji dijalankan pada separuh tahun pertama 2011,” kata Mohamed Mohamad Salleh, pengarah kajian dan penilaian, jabatan berkenaan.

"Mereka (pihak berkuasa kesihatan) mesti mendapat persetujuan penduduk di kawasan di mana penduduknya terbabit.

"Jika kawasan itu tidak berpenghuni, kelulusan mesti diberikan oleh pehgawai kerajaan,” katanya.

Mohamed berkata forum awam akan diadakan bagi menerangkan uji kaji berkenaan.

Kementerian Alam Sekitar setakat ini menerima 30 maklum balas daripada kumpulan antarabangsa dan juga tempatan berhubung uji kaji kontroversial itu.

[Baca berita penuh]

http://malaysiakini.com/news/152398