KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah welcomes Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's stance that pig farming should not take place in areas that could cause public concern.
Sultan Sharafuddin's private secretary, Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani, said in a statement on Tuesday (Feb 10) that the Sultan has stressed he did not approve of pig farming in any district in Selangor.
"This is because pig farming can cause air pollution by emitting a foul odour and can contaminate river water sources due to the release of pig faeces and sewage.
"The proposal to have pig farms in Bukit Tagar, which is an area inhabited by Malays, and the Felda area will certainly receive objections from the Malay population in the area and its surroundings.
"In addition, it can pollute water catchment areas and rivers that supply clean water sources to the population in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya," he said.
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He said Anwar's statements recommending that the Selangor government cancel the large-scale pig-farming project in Bukit Tagar are welcomed.
"Sultan Sharafuddin welcomes the Prime Minister's disapproval of pig farming being carried out in areas that are objected to by local residents and could cause controversy.
"If there were no suitable areas for pig farming in Selangor, in particular, then his suggestion was that it should not be carried out," he said.
He said that while air and river pollution can be mitigated by modern farming methods, it requires heavy expenditure and cannot be financed by anyone who breeds only for the supply of pigs in Selangor.
"There is no guarantee that modern farming will not cause water pollution in the water catchment area and rivers, which are the source of clean water for the residents of the Klang Valley.
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"Large-scale or small-scale pig farming is not suitable in Selangor due to limited land resources.
"This is coupled with our high property value factor, which should be used for more economic purposes," he said.
He said Sultan Sharafuddin suggested that the government grant licences to import pork to accommodate the demand and needs of non-Muslims, especially the Chinese community in Selangor.
"This will not only solve the long-standing pig-farming issue, but Selangor can then optimise the use of state land for other purposes such as development and settlement.
"His Majesty stressed that the pig-farming issue should be put to a stop and finalised, as it has caused stress to all parties and affects the peace and harmony of the community.
"All parties are called to respect His Majesty's orders and work together to maintain the unity and harmony of the community in this state," he said.
On Jan 10, Sultan Sharafuddin expressed disappointment and disagreement with the state government’s plan to allow pig-farming operations in Tanjong Sepat, Kuala Langat, starting this year, before relocating them to Bukit Tagar in 2030.
On Jan 26, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the state government had decided to halt the proposed pig-farming project in Bukit Tagar following public objections.
On Jan 28, Amirudin said the proposed location for modern pig-farming facilities would be re-evaluated to ensure it is sufficiently distant from residential areas.
