Has SG govt overeacted with chicken ban ?

tspg SG

After all the flu virus outbreak happened in Kelantan a Malaysian state thats furthest from us. The outbreak was in a village, not a commercial farm. If the flu virus is discovered in Johor, I would support the ban.

Its also shows SG govt mistrust of Malaysian authorities ability to contain the problem. The ban has also threaten the livelihood of small business such as hawkers in SG and measures to help them were inadequate.

By banning cooked meals with chicken meat at the customs, are the immigration over zealous in carrying out their duties? I thought cooked meat is safe to eat ? Are they sending out a wrong message to the people ?

cooleo SG

Better to be safe than sorry. Anyway, if dun ban, Singaporeans so kiasi, sure complain that govt do nothing. So might as well wayang a little, then lift the ban off in a month's time.

the Bear SG

will you be the first up in arms if the bird 'flu got here via chicken imports?

btw, take it from me... it pisses off the immigration people to have to destroy all the packs of chicken rice and roti-prata with egg... they get abused, yelled at and sometimes complaints come in...

you want to talk about over-zealous and clueless, you have to point your finger at the AVA...

tspg SG

Its a calculated risk. The Nipah virus got thru, actions were taken and I dont think anyone blamed the govt for not banning pork earlier.

As for AVA, I think the pre-emptive measures taken by them were futile and draconian. If the disease is spread by migrating fowls and birds they shd target such animals instead of the domestic fowls. The killing of chickens in Lim Chu Kang farm is an absurb excuse for an excercise and waste of money.

If the AVA staff need the training, send them to help in the culling in Thailand and Vietnam. It will give them a realistic first hand experience and improve bilateral ties too.

the Bear SG

well, tell the AVA... but somehow, i think they would have a band of vets telling you different Neutral

i'm directly affected by these measures too... oh well... it's a living.. i hope the ban gets lifted soon..

i think the malaysians will declare itself free of the thing by 1st week of september...

still, inconvenience is better than getting hammered with a potential virus that will totally decimate OUR farms..

tspg SG

I just feel that the govt is taking such measures to cover its backside at the expense of the ppl.

sgdiehard SG

I personally do not trust the Malaysian authorities in containing problem. Even the latest snatch thief issues were "contained" by simply cover up in order not to alarm tourists. What else is under cover is not known.

My friend in AVA told me that they have to send men to malaysian farms regularly to check the types of pesticides used. Without such regular visits we won't know what we are getting from the vegetables we import. It is not possible to check everything at the check point. What is interesting to hear is that all farmers there have a small area where they plant vege for their own consumption, no pesticides.

At least now, for the first time we see the Malaysian handled such issue with transparency. Pak Lah has a lot to do building up their credibility which Dr. M lost.

This is also any reminder for singapore to find alternative sources of supplies for things we had depended on Malaysia.

paperduck SG

tspg, i alway like ur point of view but not this time.

this is a pro issue ..let the highpay govt to settle.

learn from the SARS lesson. dont underestimates like the china govt.

u know how many have die cos from the chick's flu?

SARS is easy to ban.. just stop the people , but can u stop all bird flying to singapore? maybe u can active the f-16 to shoot download all bird from MY Mr. Green

paperduck SG

can also reflect how malaysia depend from singapore market.

stupidissmart SG

Do not underestimate the flu virus outbreak now. There r already people killed by the virus. Some scientists r worried tat the virus may cross mutate into affecting human. If tat happens, an epidemic may have started. It may also wipe out the chicken and eggs farm in singapore if we r not careful with it. Remember tat it is complacency tat place singapore into the sars alert last year. Wat we should do now is to stop the spread through all humanly possible means.

tspg SG

Thank you for your support. Mr. Green

The suggestion to kill all birds is a jibe at AVA's decision to cull the domestic fowls on Ubin.

Sars and bird flu is different lah. Sars is highly contagious but not bird flu. Unlike SARS different strains of bird flu has been around for a long time.
Necessary measures are need but an overeaction is unnecessary.

Anyway the main point I'm trying to make here is that the govt has taken stringent measures to protect itself without considering the impact on the people.

the Bear SG

the culling at ubin and everywhere else was idiotic, unless they were trying to cover up something (i hope they weren't! )

heck! they even culled the stray chicken that walked into my office compound and decided to make its home with us Mad

tspg SG

We are inter-dependent on each other. If they decided not to export fresh greens to us we have to eat grass until other sources can be found. Mr. Green

stupidissmart SG

Unlike the farms on mainland where control can be established easily, the chicken farm at ubin r really little significance, hard to monitor or control as their fowls r really "running wild" freely. Maybe it is an overkill but better to be safe than sorry.

Sars and bird flu is different lah. Sars is highly contagious but not bird flu. Unlike SARS different strains of bird flu has been around for a long time.

Despite being here for so long, there doesn't seems to have an effective cure for it. Bird flu is highly contagious among birds and it appears to have a near 100% death rate. Remember SARS is believed to have caught from virus cross-mutated from civet cats as well, and it is shown tat human and pigs can be affected by it. So it is better to be safe than sorry.

choco B SG

... Security Chicken? You guys killed it? : O

the Bear SG

yup but we didn't kill it... security chicken was culled the last time there was the bird 'flu Sad

poor thing.. the AVA came, saw the thing and it disappeared Crying or Very sad

SnowFlag SG

I think all these years of banning this n that, some people convert to vegetarian to save the trouble of guarding this n that. Any view on this?

the Bear SG

one word:

Pesticides...

besides, if everyone turned vegetarian, the ecology of the world will be screwed totally

SnowFlag SG

How will the ecology of the world be screwed when the chicken, pork etc are from the farms? Rolling Eyes

What type of ecology r u talking abt? Mr. Green

paperduck SG

hope govt ban the chicken(pro) from china also.

they might contain AIDS and flu also Mr. Green