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