KUALA LUMPUR Thurs. - Japan has expressed interest in importing chickens from Malaysia while Singapore maintains it imports of 110,000 chickens a day, showing confidence is high in Malaysia’s measures to keep avian flu at bay.

“This shows the two countries have, confidence in our hygienic practices and industry and Government mea­sures to ward off the disease," Fed­eration of Livestock Associations of Malaysia honorary adviser Datuk Francis Lau said today. Japan has also made inquiries with Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines, countries that are still free of the virus.

Lau said the confidence stems from the Government’s success in curbing poultry smuggling and transparency in implementing measures to-curb the flu. "Malaysia is very serious about protecting itself," said Lau who is also Leong Hup Holdings Bhd exec­utive director. "The authorities are working closely together to ensure there is no smuggling."   

Police, army and Customs officials have stringent inspection procedures at their three checkpoints along the Thai border, he added. Farmers should maintain good hygienic procedures and continue working with the authorities to en­sure their livestock are not infected, he said. On a possible mutation of the virus into something which could harm humans, Lau said this was not proven yet.