PENAMPANG – Sabahans must refrain from consuming wild boar for the time being while the government takes action to ensure there are no more pigs infected with African swine fever (ASF) in the state.
Deputy Chief Minister II-cum-Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan said the ASF situation in Sabah is now under control as they have culled infected and potentially infected pigs in 11 districts.
“There have been pigs that died of the ASF. We have culled others to ensure the disease does not spread.
“People do not need to worry as the viral disease does not infect humans. There have not been any humans infected so far. However, I ask for the public to refrain from eating wild boar at the moment,” he said.
He said this at a press conference after launching the Tagal System at the Kg Rugading river here today.
Earlier this month, Kitingan said the virus was detected among domestic pigs in Kota Marudu and Pitas as well as wild bearded pigs in Lahad Datu, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Beluran, and Telupid.
On another note, Kitingan said that his ministry has appealed to the Finance Ministry for the exemption on the goods and services tax (GST) on three agencies under his ministry: Desa Development Corporation, Sabah Rubber Industry Board, and Sabah Fishermen and Fishery Development Corporation.
The three agencies have been charged with RM8.4 million in GST and Kitingan has met with Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz on the matter on March 19.
“We are appealing for the exemption because this money is for the people, not us. The (Finance) Ministry said the (GST) enactment has been withdrawn and (no longer in place), so it has no power to grant an exemption,” he said.
Thus, the three agencies are required to pay the outstanding amount of RM8.4 million, but the Finance Ministry refund the agencies soon. – The Vibes, March 27, 2021
