Melaka govt check chicken stock after Covid-19 outbreak at poultry processing plant

MELAKA: The Melaka government has directed relevant authorities to ensure the food safety of raw chicken in the state after 175 workers at a poultry processing factory in Masjid Tanah here tested positive for Covid-19.

Melaka unity, human resources and consumer affairs committee chairman Datuk A.R. Ismail Othman said the food safety inspection is necessary to ease local concern over the supply of chicken from the factory.

"The factory is the largest supplier of chicken and poultry by-products in Melaka.

"Public health is our utmost priority," he said in an interview on Sunday (May 23).

Ismail said the decision whether to withdraw the chicken supply would be made as soon as the inspections are done.

He said another major concern was that 40 of the factory workers who tested positive were locals.

"I have asked community leaders in Masjid Tanah to stay alert and report to the health authorities if anyone in their areas develop symptoms," he said.

Ismail said the factory had been ordered to be closed from Saturday (May 22) to June 4.

Meanwhile, Melaka health and anti-drug committee chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman said swab tests are still being carried out on the remaining workers of the factory, which has 600 employees.

He said discussion is also being held to shift the foreign workers to state-owned flats nearby the factory.

Rahmad said the present worker's hostels are overcrowded.

Melaka has since recorded 38 Covid-19 related deaths with increasing active cases.