No cover-up on bird flu, vows Najib
Published: Aug 20, 2004 8:53 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
The government will not conceal any information pertaining to the detection of avian influenza - commonly known as bird flu - in the country, said Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today.
The government will not conceal any information pertaining to the detection of avian influenza - commonly known as bird flu - in the country, said Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today.
He said the government would reveal all facts in a transparent manner on the issue to avoid suspicion by certain members of the public.
"This is the cabinet directive to avoid any confusion on the issue. We don't want anyone to suspect that we are trying to cover up negative developments on the matter," he was quoted as saying by national news agency Bernama.
The deputy premier was commenting on the traces of the lethal strain of avian flu found in the carcasses of two chickens at Kampung Baru Pasir Pekan in Kelantan two days ago.
Further tests have revealed that the avian flu virus was of the deadly 'H5N1' variety, which has killed 27 people in Southeast Asia so far this year. Children are especially vulnerable to the virus.
Meanwhile, Najib said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has directed that any information on the bird flu should be issued by the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry secretary-general Abi Musa Asa'ari Mohamed Nor.
No media blackout
Yesterday, the Prime Minister's Department had clarified that it did not direct the media not to report on the outbreak.
On late Wednesday night, state-owned Bernama sent an 'urgent note to editors' stating that the department has "directed the media not to use any story relating to the so-called bird flu in the country".
But the next day, the agency carried a brief report saying the department had issued a statement denying having made such a directive.
Abi Musa, who yesterday confirmed that the virus has hit Malaysia, said all areas within a 10km radius of the affected village had already been quarantined for 21 days to ensure no poultry or birds were smuggled out.
He added that the culling of scores of chickens and ducks was under way.
The outbreak is a blow for Malaysia's thriving poultry industry as Singapore, which imports 120,000 live chickens and 20,000 live ducks from Malaysia daily, suspended all imports, driving poultry stocks down on the local bourse.
He said the government would reveal all facts in a transparent manner on the issue to avoid suspicion by certain members of the public.
"This is the cabinet directive to avoid any confusion on the issue. We don't want anyone to suspect that we are trying to cover up negative developments on the matter," he was quoted as saying by national news agency Bernama. The deputy premier was commenting on the traces of the lethal strain of avian flu found in the carcasses of two chickens at Kampung Baru Pasir Pekan in Kelantan two days ago.
Further tests have revealed that the avian flu virus was of the deadly 'H5N1' variety, which has killed 27 people in Southeast Asia so far this year. Children are especially vulnerable to the virus.
Meanwhile, Najib said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has directed that any information on the bird flu should be issued by the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry secretary-general Abi Musa Asa'ari Mohamed Nor.
No media blackout
Yesterday, the Prime Minister's Department had clarified that it did not direct the media not to report on the outbreak.
On late Wednesday night, state-owned Bernama sent an 'urgent note to editors' stating that the department has "directed the media not to use any story relating to the so-called bird flu in the country".
But the next day, the agency carried a brief report saying the department had issued a statement denying having made such a directive.
Abi Musa, who yesterday confirmed that the virus has hit Malaysia, said all areas within a 10km radius of the affected village had already been quarantined for 21 days to ensure no poultry or birds were smuggled out.
He added that the culling of scores of chickens and ducks was under way.
The outbreak is a blow for Malaysia's thriving poultry industry as Singapore, which imports 120,000 live chickens and 20,000 live ducks from Malaysia daily, suspended all imports, driving poultry stocks down on the local bourse.
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