AYER HITAM: The Kluang Health Office has been instructed to provide updates to the family of the elderly couple who passed away recently after unknowingly consuming poisonous pufferfish.
Johor health and unity committee chairman Ling Tiang Soon (pic) said it should keep the family aware of progress in the case to address their concerns.
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“As I have said, the report on the couple’s death was submitted to the deputy public prosecutor’s office in May. We have yet to receive any updates from them (on whether any legal action will be taken) but this should be communicated to the family,” said Ling.
“I have asked the Kluang Health Office to update (the family) about the progress of the case,” he added when asked to comment on the matter on Monday (July 3).
On March 25, Ng Chuan Sing @ Eng Kuai Sin and his wife Lim Siew Guan from Paloh, Kluang bought pufferfish before cooking it for lunch.
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Lim began experiencing breathing difficulties and shivers soon after the meal and the 83-year-old died later that evening.
Ng, 84, developed similar symptoms and slipped into a coma.
He passed away on April 8 after 10 days in the intensive care unit.
On Sunday (July 2), their daughter Ng Ai Lee held a press conference at the family home in Paloh to once again call on the government to strengthen the relevant laws and their enforcement to prevent similar tragedies.
She said her family was disappointed that no completion timeline for the case had been provided since meeting the Kluang Health Office on May 15.
“They also promised to provide updates. However, not a single message has been received (by us) since we met.
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“We hope the Kluang Health Office can expedite the completion of its investigation reports and... that the prosecution will soon take action against those who are responsible under the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority Act 1972 and Section 13(1)a of the Food Act 1983,” she added.
She also stressed that the government should adopt the licensing requirement practised in many countries for selling, preparing and cooking pufferfish.
It should also create more public awareness on the risks of consuming pufferfish, she added.
