‘Don’t put state in jeopardy’

Kelantan vet dept warns against smuggling in fighting cocks

KOTA BARU: Giving in to temptation to smuggle in fighting cocks from neighbouring countries will only put Malaysia in jeopardy again, as Kelantan anxiously waits to be declared free of the influenza virus H5N1.

Veterinary Services director-general Datuk Dr Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam called on the public not to smuggle fowls from neighbouring countries.

“We have not detected any new cases for more than 80 days now. We need to wait 90 days (until June 28) before sending information to the World Organisation for Animal Health to declare the nation free of H5N1,” he said.

“We spent between RM4mil and RM5mil to control the outbreak when the virus was first detected in March.”

Dr Quaza said awareness must be raised about the serious implications of smuggling fowls.

“Bringing in one infected fowl is enough to cause untold misery to an entire village, state and the country,” he said when asked to comment on measures that need to be taken to keep bird flu at bay.

He said an outbreak of such dis- eases could adversely affect the export market.

“With the help of various agencies, including the police, we managed to contain the outbreak to the six affected districts in Kelantan,” he said.

On the recent case in Kelantan, Dr Quaza said the diseases appeared to affect states along the border, such as rabies affecting Perlis and bird flu affecting Kelantan.

Dr Quaza also said a consolation payment for those affected by the recent culling exercise was given out recently.

“We are giving RM413,004 on compassionate grounds to 1,034 owners affected by the culling operation.

“We will bank in the money to the affected individuals, or send it to their homes,” he said.

He added that the consolation amount varied, depending on the type of fowl.

For example, RM10 is given for every goose culled; RM150 for each fighting cock, RM250 for a peacock, RM50 for a serama chicken (ornamental chicken), RM15 for a turkey, RM9.50 for a kampung chicken, and RM3 for a broiler chicken.

For every chicken and duck egg destroyed, 20 sen and 25 sen is given respectively.