September 22, 2005

Malaysia goes tough to prevent bird flu

Malaysia is going all out to prevent bird flu from reaching its shores.

Already the Malaysian Cabinet wants those caught smuggling live, processed or even cooked birds be prosecuted to ensure the country remains bird flu-free, following Indonesia's latest bird flu outbreak.

While offenders previously only had their goods confiscated, they would now be charged for smuggling, warned Malaysian Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Tan explained that punitive measures must be taken to avert a major problem in the country.

The Cabinet has also agreed that should bird flu hits Malaysia, poultry farmers affected by poultry culling would be compensated. This will ensure that farmers cooperate fully with the authority and report all cases of bird flu, Tan explained.

He also revealed that a special committee made up of several ministries and agencies had been set up to tackle the issue; the committee would meet soon to discuss other contingency plans.

One such plan includes roping in local authorities and village heads to monitor the migratory birds and range chickens in their areas, with agriculture officers monitoring commercial poultry farms.

Tan said that a bird-flu Asean taskforce, of which Malaysia is chairing, would meet in the Philippines year-end.

The help of international bodies might be sought to help developing countries deal with bird flu, he revealed, like by providing financial assistance through compensation to poultry farmers for culled chickens or ducks.