SIBU: The public here have been assured that pork is safe for consumption as pigs are tested and checked before going through Sibu Municipal Council’s (SMC) abattoirs for distribution to sellers.
“There are a few things that have Sibu folk confused. We need to clarify them, especially on pork, from the process of slaughtering pigs to the end product at stalls at the Central Market here and other stalls selling pork,” said Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng.
“All pigs from the farms that go through SMC’s abattoir are tested and checked by our veterinary services department to ensure safety,” he told the media when visiting pork stalls at the Central Market today.
He was accompanied by, among others, Katibas assemblyman Lidam Assam, Sibu veterinary services department officer Anthony Luta, SMC Markets and Petty Traders standing committee chairman Albert Tiang and Sibu Pork Dealers Association (SPDA) chairman Ting Ching Hee.
Chieng said he had held a dialogue with the owners of pig farms and SPDA members to assist them to apply for some form of assistance with regard to the African Swine Fever (ASF).
“We hope that the government will render them assistance by giving one-off financial aid or even SMC can think of waiving the hawker fee and so on in order to reduce the burden.
“From SPDA feedback, their business had dropped more than half since about three months ago following the ASF predicament.
“YB Lidam and myself will talk to our minister on rendering some form of assistance or aid.”
