State to keep close watch on Ayamas products

Posted on November 8, 2012, Thursday

Dr Humrawali Khan

KUCHING: The State Veterinary Authority will now carry out test on every consignment of Ayamas products imported into the state following the recent discovery of prohibited antibiotic ‘chloramphenicol’ in chicken frankfurter produced by the firm. Previously, tests were only carried out on the third consignment.

State Veterinary Authority director Dr Humrawali Khan told The Borneo Post and See Hua Daily News here yesterday that the initiative was deemed necessary following the shocking find. He added that for now all importation of Ayamas products into the state had been suspended pending investigation by the Ministry of Health.

“When there is a residue in food, it comes under the Food Act, and this falls under the purview of the Ministry of Health. Whether the product will be confiscated from the market depends on the ministry.” Dr Humrawali said he was in the dark how the contamination occurred because Ayamas, being a leading player in frozen food production, had an accredited processing plant, although they depended on contract farmers for the supply of chickens.

“Ayamas may have stringent tests on their own farms, but we never know about the other suppliers because there will always be unscrupulous people out there,” he said, adding that chloramphenicol was from chicken feeds and the water.

However, even if Ayamas was later found to be responsible for the contamination, Dr Humrawali opined they (Ayamas) should not be served punitive action. He reasoned that punitive action could kill the industry, and eventually lead to food import, which could harm the economy. “Giving punitive action will not be good for the industry and the economy in the long run. Rather, they should be allowed to sort things out and see what went wrong.” On the other hand, Dr Humrawali stressed that big and leading players must be responsible for their actions, and not be allowed to do things at their whims and fancies.

Meanwhile, Ayamas assured in a statement yesterday that the company viewed the matter seriously and was carrying out a thorough investigation.

It said the ban came as a shock because the company did not use chloramphenicol or any other banned antibiotics in the raw materials they used. “Ayamas implemented the most stringent quality control measures to ensure that only the top quality food products leave our plants, and the food safety of our customers is our top priority,” it said.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/11/08/state-to-keep-close-watch-on-ayamas-products/#ixzz2Bcf4XtCN

SVA detected banned antibiotic in poultry products

The recent swift action by State Veterinary Authority as reported

KUCHING: A sample of chicken frankfurter product produced by Ayamas Food Corporation Sdn Bhd was found to contain the prohibited antibiotic ‘chloramphenicol’ during random testing by the State Veterinary Authority last week. The detection of the substance has been confirmed by the Veterinary Authority in Kuala Lumpur, said Datuk Mong Dagang, Assistant Minister for Agriculture (Research and Marketing).

Chloramphenicol was previously used to treat diseases in chicks. However, its use on food-producing animals was not permitted because harmful residues may remain in food products. Mong told The Borneo Post on Saturday that the batch of chicken frankfurter tested had entered the state from Peninsular Malaysia through Bintulu. “The State Health Department has been alerted and further action on the sales of products from Ayamas Food Corporation Sdn Bhd is up to them,” he said.

Mong added that following the shocking find, the state immediately suspended import of Ayamas products, while the  State Veterinary Authority forwarded a notice of the suspension of importation of products from this company to importers on Nov 1. The notice stated that the importation of whole chicken, poultry meat, poultry meat cut, and poultry meat value-added products (nugget, shelf-stable, bone-in, chunky meat, sausage, burger and meatball) from Ayamas had been suspended with immediate effect, until further notice, due to the detection of the banned substance. On locally produced chicken products and products, Mong said they were safe for consumption. “The Veterinary Authority will continue to remain vigilant, and so far locally produced chicken products are safe for consumption. That goes for those from Peninsular Malaysia too … but not from Ayamas.”

Datuk Rohani Karim

Meanwhile, Ayamas products were still on sale yesterday as the Health Department and Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry have not given directives for them to be removed. When met at Giant Hypermarket in Tabuan here yesterday, Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Datuk Rohani Karim, said that the matter was “quite serious”, but it needed to be probed further.

“We (ministry) have not gotten any letter from the (state) ministry responsible. When we are notified, we will instruct our officers to act. If this is true, it is a serious case because it involves human health.” Rohani, who is Batang Lupar MP, cautioned that offenders might be prosecuted under the Consumer Protection Act, which carries a maximum penalty of RM100,000 fine or three years in jail.

As for the Health Department, its director Datu Dr Zulkifli Jantan said on Saturday that his department would conduct another round of tests on Ayamas products to confirm the presence of Chloramphenicol. “We will have to do some more tests for further confirmation, and if there were Chloramphenicol, then we shall seal the affected products.” Prior to these official statements, the issue had gone viral in Facebook

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/11/05/banned-antibiotic-in-food-product/#ixzz2BPc0hZHT

Selamat Menyambut Hari Raya 2012

SVA would like to wish all muslim friends Selamat Menyambut Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Happy holidays to all.

Knowing The Existent Of Law

Thank you for highlighting the issue. Obviously the Columnist ( The Tired Eye) below, do not aware of the existent of Law of Sarawak Chapter 32 Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999, Section 73 Prevention of Cruelty To Animal. Borneo Post are suppose to publish an up to date issue or to check with the Department of Agriculture Veterinary Division. Below is the article for your comment.

Animal welfare laws with more bite

by The Tired Eye. Posted on August 19, 2012, Sunday

ANIMAL abuse and neglect have been going on for years. Yet, it was only recently, thanks to social networking, that these sick and inhumane acts have become more publicised. In Malaysia it is not uncommon to see strays (both cats and dogs) roaming the streets and scavenging for food behind coffee shops and restaurants. In most cases, we leave them alone and even share our food with them as they come up to us.

Some coffee shop owners will also show compassion and leave food for these strays a little further away from the general cooking and eating areas. Yet, there are heartless monsters who regards themselves as human beings who find joy in bullying and mercilessly hurting these strays. There are also cases of pets that are beaten, neglected, or forced to struggle for survival. Some are left in unsanitary conditions to live out their days pitifully.

The recent case of a Somali student who stuffed a dog into a manhole in Cyberjaya got animal lovers in the country riled up. The perpetrator even had the nerve to say that the dog was still alive as the hole was big enough for the dog to get out of it. He was asked to care for the dog when its owner returned home for a holiday. If Eye were the owner, Eye would ask that the perpetrator be stuffed down a manhole in the same cruel manner that he treated the dog.

Right here in Sarawak, a 55-year-old man was recently convicted under the Cruelty to Animals (Prevention) Ordinance by a magistrates’ court in Kuching for the killing of five stray puppies on July 18. He was sentenced to a month’s jail and made it into the history books as the first person ever in Sarawak to be convicted under the law that has been around for 49 years.

The maximum penalty under this existing ordinance is three months’ jail or an RM500 fine. At the federal level, Section 44 of the Animal Act 1953 (2006 Amendment) states that anyone guilty of an offence of cruelty to animals is liable to an RM200 fine or jail term of six months or both.

Many animal lovers and animal welfare NGOs have argued that these sentences are too light and it is not often that those found guilty are given the maximum sentence. And what is RM200 or RM500 (in the case of Sarawak) as a fine when compared to the heinous acts on living beings?

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar recently announced that the new Animal Welfare Bill to be tabled in parliament early next year will impose heavier penalties on animal abusers.

We animal lovers welcome this new bill, which provides for animal abusers to be fined between RM20,000 and RM100,000 or jailed for up to three years, or both.

It is hoped that this new law will minimise, if not put an end to, cruel acts against animals. The time has also come for Sarawak, which has its own ordinances and regulations to impose heavier penalties on those who abuse animals. As mentioned, the state’s Cruelty to Animals (Prevention) Ordinance 1962 has been in existence for 49 years. Times have changed and a maximum RM500 fine or three month’s jail time are considered pretty mild.

We also need a law with more bite against those who abuse animals. Be reminded though, even with heavier penalties in place, a law will not be successful if there is no serious effort in enforcement. The public will also have to play a role in reporting cases of animal abuse – be it of pets or strays. Mahatma Gandhi, who believed that speaking out on behalf of animals is both a necessity and an obligation, once said: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated.”

In this fast changing world, it has now become a necessity and obligation that we have to undertake by law to ensure that living beings, other than us humans, are not mistreated or abused and that the perpetrators who do so are punished accordingly.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/08/19/animal-welfare-laws-with-more-bite/#ixzz23wmTYrca

Happy Gawai Day

To all Dayak Veterinarians,

Happy Gawai Dayak to all. Let us all celebrate together with our friends.

Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai Lantang Senang.

K-CHAT

THE ULTIMATE PROFESSIONAL CENTRE

cordially invites all professionals & their spouses to

K-CHAT

Speaker No. 1 – Ar Ng Chee Wee

Integrated Design Consultant

“GREEN ARCHITECTURE – AN INTRODUCTION”

Speaker No. 2 – Ar Wee Hii Min

Design Network Architects

“IT’S NOT EASY BEING GREEN”

Friday 18 May 2012

UPC Auditorium, 3^rd Floor, No. 16 Jalan Bukit Mata Kuching

7.00 – 7.30 pm Arrival and Registration of Participants

7.30 – 8.15 pm Speaker No. 1 Ar Ng Chee Wee

8.15 – 8.25 pm Q & A

8.25 – 8.35 pm Break (Light Refreshments)

8.35 – 9.20 pm Speaker No. 2 Ar Wee Hii Min

9.20 – 9.30 pm Q & A

Hosted by

PERTUBUHAN AKITEK MALAYSIA

SARAWAK CHAPTER

Please note that there are ample parking spaces available at Taman Kereta

(There is a link at Level 3 to UPC behind the Professional Centre)

RSVP: Ms Doreen Tan Tel: 082-258 485

Ms Melinda Leong/Sasha Tel: 082-457182

New SSPCA shelter will be environment-friendly

by Georgette Tan, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on March 13, 2012, Tuesday

KUCHING: The new Sarawak Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) shelter will be environmentally-friendly, said president Dona Drury Wee. “It will be a ‘green’ shelter,” she told The Borneo Post, after a press conference announcing their upcoming event, World Animal Groove (WAG) Festival.

SSPCA hopes to raise funds for their new shelter, which is expected to cost around RM1.5 million to construct. Currently, the shelter is at 6 1/2 Mile. The committee is expecting to meet with Land and Survey Department representatives this month and view the potential site.

According to Wee, the site cannot be near a housing estate and still be accessible from the city. “We plan on keeping the capacity at 300 animals maximum at the new site,” she said, adding that this 2011 figure grew from 2010’s capacity of 270 animals.

“What we want is a proper exercise area for the dogs, and to build more staff quarters and accommodations for visiting veterinarians.” The shelter uses around RM27,000 in costs every month, including staff wages, food and medication for the animals, and for neutering.

The adoption rate is only 25 per cent, with only one adoption for every four animals brought in. SSPCA is going to focus on getting more enforcement for animal abuse cases this year and will be meeting with the three councils, police and State Veterinary Division. “SSPCA has no authority to take any action against offenders.

“If there continues to be no enforcement, people are going to think they can get away with abusing their pets,” said Wee.

Part of the difficulty is that abuse is sometimes hard to prove. “You talk to the neighbours and they don’t want to be the one to ‘rat’ on the abuser,” she said.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/03/13/new-sspca-shelter-will-be-environment-friendly/#ixzz1pFAmi4pZ