KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 — The Sultan of Selangor has called for a complete halt to pig farming in the state, citing environmental risks and social unease, while proposing pork imports as an alternative to meet demand among non-Muslims.
In a statement issued by the Selangor palace today, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah expressed support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s earlier position opposing a proposed large-scale pig farming project in Bukit Tagar, Hulu Selangor, and went further by stating that pig farming should not be carried out anywhere in the state.
The palace statement said: “His Royal Highness does not consent to pig farming being carried out in any district in the State of Selangor.”
It added that pig farming could cause air pollution through foul odours and contaminate river water sources due to the discharge of waste and sewage, while also risking pollution of water catchment areas and rivers supplying treated water to Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya.
The statement cited Bukit Tagar, which it described as a Malay-majority and Felda area, as an example of a location likely to draw objections from surrounding residents. The state government recently cancelled the Bukit Tagar centralised pig farming project.
Referring to Anwar’s January 23 statement and a subsequent audience on February 8, the palace said the federal leader had also expressed disagreement with pig farming in areas opposed by local residents or that could trigger controversy, and had suggested that if no suitable site could be identified in Selangor, the project should not proceed.
While Sultan Sharafuddin acknowledged that modern farming methods could mitigate pollution, he argued that such systems would require high capital expenditure and offered “no guarantee that modern farming would not cause water pollution in water catchment areas and rivers that serve as sources of clean water for residents of the Klang Valley.”
CodeBlue previously reported multiple public health views supporting modern, centralised pig farming, with virologist Prof Dr Lam Sai Kit saying regulated biosecure facilities can reduce disease risks. A Monash virologist noted Nipah risk depends mainly on farm siting and bat exposure, while the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) said centralised systems with strict controls can better protect public health and limit pollution.
The Selangor ruler also pointed to the state’s limited land availability and high property values, saying land should be prioritised for more economically beneficial uses that could better serve the community.
“Therefore, His Royal Highness suggested that the government grant licences for the importation of pork to meet the demand and needs of non-Muslims, particularly the Chinese community, in the state of Selangor only,” said the Selangor palace.
“Through this method, it would not only resolve the long-standing issue of pig farming, but at the same time the state government could optimise the use of Selangor state land for other purposes such as development and housing.”
The statement concluded by urging all parties to respect the royal decree and to safeguard unity and social harmony, saying any debate on the issue should be stopped and finalised, describing the pig farming issue as one that had caused unease among multiple stakeholders.
The statement was issued by the Sultan’s private secretary, Mohamad Munir Bani.
