KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar will summon the developer of the pig farming project in Tongod next month to discuss and identify the reasons behind delays in its implementation.
He said his decision to summon the developer followed an impromptu site visit on his way back to Kota Kinabalu after the Tongod Kaamatan Festival on Wednesday (May 20).
According to Jamawi, the project, approved by the government in 2022, aims to centralise pig farming activities in Sabah at the designated location in the central Tongod district to ensure better management, control and sensitivity to community concerns.
He expects to meet the developer of the project on June 8.
He noted that basic infrastructure works, including roads, fencing and utilities, were nearly complete and had been carried out by the Sabah Veterinary Services Department.
“Infrastructure and utilities provided by the department are about 80% complete, including fencing. The issue lies with the developer, and we are looking into how to ensure the project can proceed,” Jamawi said here on Thursday (May 21).
He added that the state department director informed him the developer was currently in the tender process to build modern pig pens planned for the site. However, he stressed that the government did not rule out appointing another developer if the current company was unwilling or unable to continue.
“If the developer is not interested, we can find another, as many are keen to invest in this area,” he said.
Jamawi explained that the site was chosen because it was far from residential areas and settlements, making it suitable for large-scale livestock development. The project will also adopt modern technology and comply with both local and international standards, including environmental and community sensitivity considerations.
The project covers about 200 acres and has the potential to house up to two million pigs once fully operational.
Jamawi said the project was intended not only to meet local market demand, particularly among non-Muslim communities in Sabah, but also to serve as a potential export source. He said the site would become Sabah’s main pig farming hub, with its gazettement preventing similar activities from spreading to other areas that could raise sensitivity issues.
“I want to see the government’s plans implemented properly, systematically and as soon as possible. That is our commitment under the ministry and the Sabah Veterinary Services Department,” he said.
