SHAH ALAM: Selangor is looking at alternative sites for the proposed centralised pig farming project initially linked to Bukit Tagar after objections were raised over the plan.
Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the state government agreed with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s proposal to temporarily halt the project, and had already instructed Selangor Infrastructure and Agriculture Committee chairman Datuk Izham Hashim to look for alternative sites even before Anwar raised the issue.
Amirudin said Anwar contacted him by phone as he was overseas, while Izham had also informed him of strong objections over the Bukit Tagar area.
The proposal also drew objections from Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
“When Datuk Izham informed me of the objections, I said we should look for another place that is more appropriate or suitable, perhaps in areas that are less sensitive.”
Selangor has said its Bukit Tagar plan was meant to modernise pig farming and reduce pollution by consolidating scattered farms into a single managed centre, rather than expanding.
Amirudin, who was speaking to the press during Selangor’s New Year message event in Shah Alam, also dismissed suggestions that Selangor intended to adopt China’s high-rise pig farming concept.
“It won’t go as far as a ‘pig hotel’. We are not going to do that.”
He also rejected claims the proposal was a mega-scale development.
“All those ‘mega’ claims are exaggerated and beyond what is reasonable.”
Amirudin said the state’s priority was to address pollution linked to existing farming operations.
“That is all,” he said, adding that Selangor has 69 licensed pig farm operators with no new licences being issued.
Existing farms would be relocated following discussions with operators.
“We will postpone it for now, while we look at other site options or other methods to address the demand,” he said, adding that the proposal remained at an early stage as the planning permission had yet to be submitted.
