KUCHING, July 9: Any organisation or individual intending to perform the Aidiladha sacrificial ritual must apply for the exemption of license or slaughter permit from their respective Divisional Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Sarawak.
Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said that under Section 61(1) of the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999, animals for the purpose of sale or public use must be slaughtered in a licensed slaughter house.
“However, flexibility is given if the purpose of slaughter is for a religious ceremony.
“As Hari Raya Aidiladha falls on July 10, certainly many mosques, suraus and villagers in the Muslim majority community will take the opportunity to perform the sacrificial ritual,” he said in a statement today.
Dr Rundi also assured that there is a sufficient supply of cattle for Aidiladha in Sarawak, which needs around 2,000 cows every year.
He also reminded that as long as the sacrificial animals are placed in the mosque, surau or village, their welfare must be taken care of such as being given adequate food and drink and ensuring that the heifer is not pregnant.
“The slaughterer must use a sharp machete so that the sacrificial animal does not feel pain during the process,” he added.
Dr Rundi also gave assurance that the animals to be sacrificed are healthy as Sarawak is still free of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) currently spreading across West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Since June 15, Sarawak has banned the importat of livestock and livestock products from Indonesia with Kuching, Serian, Sri Aman, Miri and Limbang divisions gazetted as a FMD control areas.
“Most of the sacrificial animals are cows and goats, and both of these animals are prone to FMD where there is currently an epidemic in West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
“Therefore, the DVS has imposed restrictions or control on the movement of livestocks from FMD control areas to other areas,” he added. — DayakDaily
