Govt admits to giving expired noodles

Govt admits to giving expired noodles

AMBON, Maluku: A government official acknowledged on Tuesday
that the Maluku Social Welfare Office had distributed expired
instant noodles to refugees residing in Wainitu subdistrict,
Ambon city.

However, the official, Sartono, quickly defended the action as
purely accidental. The packs of instant noodles were mixed with
other food aid, making it difficult for government employees to
check the expiry dates one by one, said Sartono, who is
responsible for the distribution of food to dozens of refugees in
Wainitu subdistrict.

The refugees, from the neighboring subdistrict of Talake, took
refuge in Wainitu subdistrict following a riot in Ambon city on
April 25 this year.

The riot, which claimed dozens of lives, erupted after a rally
organized by the separatist Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) to
commemorate the 54th anniversary of its self-named South Maluku
Republic (RMS), and was blamed for provoking renewed sectarian
clashes in Ambon. -- JP