By Ashley Sim
SIBU, March 9: Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government Michael Tiang has instructed Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) to look into the closure of its abattoir and take appropriate action to reopen it as soon as possible.
He said instruction had been given to SMC to look for ways to deal with the issue, with the hope that the abattoir can be reopened earlier than the two-month closure which was fixed by the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVS).
“I wish that SMC can look into it and see whether it is possible to clear up the place and sanitise it according to the required standards and reopen the abattoir earlier than the period that DVS had ordered,” he said.
DVSS in a letter dated March 9, 2022 had ordered the SMC Abattoir at Jalan Ding Lik Kong to be closed for a period of 60 days after some pig samples collected from the abattoir for African Swine Fever (ASF) tested positive for the virus.
The closure was ordered to enable the cleaning and disinfection process to be carried out.
Tiang, who is Pelawan assemblyman pointed out that the closure is necessary to prevent further spread of ASF in Sibu.
He said previously, an abattoir in Sarikei was ordered to be closed for three months.
Tiang understood that the supply of pork to consumers at various market is important. He said that the closure of SMC’s abattoir would not only affect consumers, but also the livelihood of pork sellers.
“I hope the public can understand that this is a way to break the chain of spreading the virus further.
“The closure is critical and has to be done immediately as instructed by our Veterinary Department,” he said. — DayakDaily
