Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail

SIBU: Members of the public need not worry about consuming chickens and chicken products as they are sourced locally, says Assistant Minister of Agriculture Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail.

“In Lawas, for instance, since the Sarawak government enforced the ban on the import of chicken products from Sabah on Aug 1 following the bird flu epidemic in Tuaran, all chickens and chicken products there (Lawas) are sourced locally,” he said when contacted via whatsapp yesterday.

He said the ban would only be lifted once Sarawak is satisfied that the bird flu threat in Sabah is over.

The Bukit Kota assemblyman was asked on the concern posed by some members of the public on the consumption of chicken following the bird flu epidemic in Sabah.

Sarawak Veterinary Services Department has imposed a ban on the import of chicken products from Sabah since Aug 1 following the bird flu epidemic in Tuaran.

The department has cancelled all import permits for chicken products from Sabah.

Meanwhile, Sabah’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, through the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), has advised the public not to panic as the matter is well under control.

DVS has been conducting researches on poultry farms in Sabah since July 12, following viral messages circulating on social media that bird flu was spreading in the state.

Its Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Junz Wong has ordered the DVS to conduct regular checks on chickens and eggs.

A test conducted on July 31 revealed that a farm in the Tuaran-Tamparuli area came back positive for the virus and the ministry ordered several farms within the one-kilometre vicinity of the farm to be sealed off and cleansed.

A chicken vendor here when met as his stall yesterday, revealed of usual (big) sales.

He said the happening in Sabah did not affect his sales.