January 13, 2011

Malaysian city council resolves pork sale confusion

Malaysian pork sellers and consumers are relieved after the city council cleared the confusion that consumers would only be allowed to purchase pork from butchers on a certain time.

The controversial issue started on Tuesday (Jan 11) when a local Chinese media carried a report stating that consumers would only be allowed to purchase pork from butchers between 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. from January 2.

The Malacca Pork Sellers Association (MPSA) had promptly protested.

However, the matter was resolved when the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) local councillors arranged a meeting between MPSA and the Malacca Historic City Council.

MCA local councillor Ronald Gan clarified that the new guidelines only affected the transportation of freshly butchered pork from the abattoirs to the pork sellers and with matters related to hygiene at meat shops.

Mr Gan denied that the new guidelines prevented the sale of pork during working hours.

"I want to assure pork sellers and consumers that there is no such condition and pork sellers can operate their business 24-hours a day if they wished," he said when met after the meeting here in Ayer Keroh yesterday.