No Rearing Of Poultry Freely In Villages

MUAR, March 25 (Bernama)-- The government may no longer allow chicken and ducks to be reared freely in villages in efforts to protect the country's poultry industry which is worth billions of ringgit a year.
Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the move might be necessary in view of the bird flu virus.
He said the country's poultry industry was worth between RM4 billion and RM5 billion a year and efforts should be made to protect the industry.
"Currently, no chicken or ducks which are reared commercially are infected by the virus but the operators are worried," he said when met after a 4B Youth Movement Programme at Panchor here Saturday.
He said although samples sent for test in Ipoh were negative for the virus, a contingency plan was necessary to overcome the problem.
He also said that the bird flu situation in the country was under control.