SHAH ALAM: Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has expressed deep disappointment and strongly disagreed with the state government’s decision to permit large-scale pig farming operations in Kuala Langat and later in Bukit Tagar.
In a strongly worded media statement issued via Istana Shah Alam on Saturday (Jan 10), the Sultan of Selangor described the proposed large-scale development as unjustifiable, insensitive and unbalanced with Selangor’s demographic realities, given the state’s Malay Muslim majority — especially if the project is geared towards the export market.
While His Royal Highness acknowledged the necessity of small-scale, controlled pig farming to meet the dietary needs of the state's non-Muslim community, he emphasised that the current plan was untenable due to long-standing, unresolved environmental issues.
“The Kuala Langat area is home to many Malay residents, and to this day, problems linked to pig farming in the area have not been fully resolved since 2010.
“Residents nearby have long endured various negative effects, including lingering foul odours, river water pollution, and endless fly infestations, which affect the quality of life and public health,” said Sultan of Selangor.
The state government recently decided to allow pig farming operations in Tanjong Sepat, Kuala Langat, starting this year as a temporary measure before relocating them to a 202-hectare site in Bukit Tagar in 2030.
The Ruler emphasised that his own residence in the district, Istana Pantai Bahagia, is also affected by the stench.
“His Royal Highness has personally experienced and witnessed firsthand the effects of odour pollution stemming from pig farming activities in the area.
"It is unreasonable for an issue that has persisted for over a decade to recur on a larger scale," the statement said.
His Royal Highness suggested that elected representatives live near pig farms, such as those in Kuala Langat, to experience firsthand what nearby residents have endured.
Sultan Sharafuddin rejected the proposal to use Kuala Langat as a temporary site, saying it would worsen pollution problems that have persisted for 16 years.
The Ruler also seriously questioned whether the large-scale planning served the interests of certain groups of politicians and businessmen.
He raised concerns regarding the possible elements of corruption, conflict of interest, or governance lapses in the project's planning and approval process.
Touching on the financial aspect, the Sultan referred to previous state initiatives to study modern pig farming techniques abroad.
However, he noted reports that the modernisation costs were too high for livestock operators to bear.
He questioned whether the state government intended to bear the high modernisation costs of this new proposal, suggesting such funds would be better allocated to public facilities and services like schools and hospitals.
Sultan Sharafuddin asserted that economic development must not come at the expense of the people's well-being, environmental sustainability, or the harmony of Selangor's multiracial society.
“His Royal Highness emphasises that He does not fully object to the proposed project; however, market studies must be conducted thoroughly and rationally before a final decision is made,” it said.
He urged the state government to conduct thorough, rational market studies before making a final decision, and to act with trust and transparency while prioritising the interests of the rakyat above all else.
