Twelve million ringgit worth of meat from India, Australia and New Zealand has been stuck at three ports for more than a month and is at risk of going rotten, local media reported today.

Importers blamed goverment red-tape for the delay in allowing the consignments through, saying consumers could soon face a shortage.

The chilled meat - buffalo from India and beef, mutton and lamb from Australia and New Zealand - is in 100 containers at the ports of Klang, Penang and Tanjong Pelepas, several newspapers reported.

"It is crucial to get the consignments out immediately. Otherwise, the meat would not be fit for consumption," Malaysian Meat Importers Association secretary R Santirakesu was quoted as saying by the Malay Mail .

Santirakesu said the meat, ordered by 25 importers who supply some 90 percent of Malaysia's needs, had a shelf life of about 30 days.

Procedures ignored

He blamed the Veterinary Services Department for delaying letters of approval required by the importers and said they had stopped placing new orders.

"At one meeting, we were told the letters would be issued within days. But until today, we have yet to see such documents," he said.

The Veterinary Department told The Sun newspaper the meat was held up because the importers had ignored new procedures introduced to ensure meat was safe in view of recent outbreaks of disease. - AFP