JAKARTA, July 20 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Malaysia lambasted the Indonesian government on Friday over a ban imposed on meat imports from Kuala Lumpur two weeks ago.
The Indonesian government announced it had decided on the ban due to serious doubts over the safety of the bovine meat. It said it feared the Hand, Foot and Mouth disease might have infected animals from Malaysia.
The Animal Information Office (JPH) of Malaysia's director general, Mohamed Nordin Mohamed Noor, said his office was taken aback by the decision from Indonesian authorities.
He said they acted in haste and were too severe in their judgment of the situation in Malaysia, adding that they seem to have been misinformed.
Indonesian authorities banned the import of beef, chicken and 30 other products, including pills and other medication, which does not have anything to do with the disease, from Malaysia.
The JPH said it is true that the sickness affected cows in Kedah and Kelantan, where hundreds of local herds have since died. It says most of the cattle come from Myanmar.
Malaysian authorities said Indonesia had misunderstood a report from the World Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) that was sent to the JPH earlier this month.
"Following this misadventure, the JPH's representatives in Indonesia will contact the Indonesian authorities soon to appeal to them and to discuss issues related to banned products such as chicken and others that are not of bovine origin," Mohamed Noor said.
"We are going to counter their claims by sending them a letter of clarification of the situation. We feel the Indonesians have been very harsh in their decision," he added.
