South Jakarta prepares oversight team for siomay vendors using sailfin catfish

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The South Jakarta Administrative City Government (Pemkot Jaksel) is preparing an oversight team for siomay vendors using sailfin catfish as part of integrated food security supervision. “We must bring in a team from the Food Security, Maritime, and Agriculture Office (KPKP) and the Drug and Food Supervisory Agency (BBPOM) who truly understand whether this food contains sailfin catfish or not,” said South Jakarta Mayor Muhammad Anwar during the City and Journalists Discussion (Berkawan) event in Jakarta on Wednesday. Anwar emphasised that they would not suddenly approach siomay vendors to maintain conduciveness. Subsequently, together with competent teams, they will also provide socialisation to vendors regarding food safety for consumers. “Don’t let us end up doing sudden raids, which would be unfortunate for the vendors,” he said. Meanwhile, Head of the Fisheries Section of the South Jakarta KPKP Food Security, Maritime, and Agriculture Sub-District Office, Arief Prakoso, added that they are mapping locations for siomay vendor oversight. “Regarding inspections of processed fishery products, we have started mapping first; currently, we will also inform colleagues when we have movements,” said Arief. In addition to socialising with siomay vendors, they are also distributing capture equipment to all districts in South Jakarta to intensify the extermination of sailfin catfish. “We have started distributing assistance for capture equipment to all Districts. Because colleagues from the districts are also enthusiastic to participate in sailfin catfish capture operations in their respective areas,” he said. In the future, the South Jakarta Administrative City Government plans to conduct another sailfin catfish capture on Tuesday (5/5) ahead. The capture will follow MUI recommendations by stunning the fish heads until dead, then burying them at the Ciganjur landfill and Ciganjur nursery garden. Furthermore, the South Jakarta Administrative City Government (Pemkot Jaksel) is conducting a study on using captured sailfin catfish for livestock feed and organic fertiliser to continue its benefits.