By Ling Hui
KUCHING, March 11: “I know 60 days is very long, but we have got to bite the bullet and get rid of ASF once and for all,” says Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting.
He said that he understood that Sibu abattoir’s 60-day closure since March 9 would affect the businesses of many related parties, but he added that the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) must be seriously dealt with to avoid any recurrences.
“I personally think 60 days is too long as well, but this is to protect the pig farming industry.
“We all don’t want to face this (abattoir) closure issue every month, right?” he said, urging all pig farmers, butchers, and pork sellers to cooperate with the cleaning and sanitising operations.
Ting said since March 9, he had been receiving calls from Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government cum Pelawan assemblyman Michael Tiang, Dudong assemblyman Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, and Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng Jin Ek, all suggesting that the 60-day closure period is too long.
Despite being of the same opinion with the three assemblymen, Ting said it was not up to SMC or himself to decide but directions from the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS).
“This matter is not council matter. This is purely a medical matter, so it is up to the veterinary department to decide,” he told DayakDaily today.
Sibu abattoir was instructed to be closed down for 60 days starting March 9 following a discovery that five out of six pigs had tested positive for ASF. — DayakDaily
