(MY) - chickens killed

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Friday February 24, 2006 - The Star

 

Residents voluntarily surrender chickens

 

By THO XIN YI

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians feel better being safe than sorry.

 

This was evident at the bird flu affected areas in Setapak where

residents voluntarily " surrendered " their chickens for culling.

 

When a team from the Veterinary Services Department and the Kuala

Lumpur City Hall arrived at Taman Ibu Kota, residents were seen

approaching the officers to tell them that they kept chickens.

 

Kamaruddin Mohd Yunus said he had to part with his 11 chickens.

 

" My two daughters cried last night when I told them I had to give up

the birds to protect the family from bird flu, " said the 49-year-old

contractor, who kept his chickens in his backyard.

 

" My daughters, aged 11 and 14, treat the chickens as pets, " he said.

 

The family watched as the team went into the house compound to catch

the chickens.

 

A rooster, however, escaped.

 

Kamaruddin promised to call the department when the rooster returned.

 

His neighbour, known only as Wan Aminnunddi, asked the team to catch a

hen that called at his house.

 

" It often rests and lays eggs in my house compound, " said the

45-year-old businessman.

 

" I was very worried when I heard about the avian flu. I do not want to

risk my life by allowing the hen to stay, " he said.

 

The hen was " not in " when the team went to his house but the eggs were

taken away.

 

The team also received a complaint from a resident at Taman Danau Kota

about Indonesians keeping chickens at a construction site there.

 

However, the team found out that the Indonesians had already destroyed

the chickens.

 

At Wardieburn Camp, the team found a bird park with four peacocks,

each worth RM30,000, four chickens and three pigeons.

 

However, the team could not take action because the owner of the park

was not at home.