PARLIAMENT | A PAS lawmaker has urged the Selangor government to fully cancel its proposed centralised pig farming project in Bukit Tagar, instead of merely putting the project on hold.
Addressing the Dewan Rakyat today, Hasnizan Harun (PN-Hulu Selangor), whose constituency covers the Bukit Tagar area, said the state government’s halt on the project has caused unease among residents.
“The public wants (the project) to be cancelled entirely, not merely suspended.
“This is the voice of the rakyat, particularly those who are Muslim. I appeal to the Selangor government to ensure that the selection of Bukit Tagar for a pig farm is cancelled entirely, not just a temporary cancellation,” he said in his debate on the royal address.
He emphasised that such objections from residents are “clearly well-founded” as Hulu Selangor is a water catchment area and a major source of water.
“There are also settlements located close to Bukit Tagar, including four Felda clusters, Orang Asli villages, estate settlements, residents of Bestari Jaya, the Universiti Selangor, and others,” he said.
On Monday, Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said the state government decided to put the Bukit Tagar project on hold, following protests from residents in nearby areas.
The Gombak MP also said state executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Izham Hashim has been instructed to identify an alternate site.
The decision came after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim suggested that the project be suspended first, or relocated to a more suitable area, provided the technology used is “fully assured”.
No safety guarantee
Hasnizan, however, highlighted that modern livestock farming methods do not necessarily guarantee safety, pointing to instances in more advanced nations where odour and water pollution still occurred despite the implementation of technologically developed methods.
He also took issue with Amirudin’s claim earlier today that there are now investors willing to finance the project, cautioning that such assistance could lead to expanded operations to allow exports to cover losses and increase profits in the future.
Amirudin had said that efforts to relocate traditional pig farms and establish a more centralised system in suitable localities are part of long-proposed plans, which are only now being implemented.
The menteri besar also affirmed that such farms located in Tanjung Sepat are unsustainable, as a minimum of six years is needed for soil recovery to be carried out to rehabilitate the area.
Consider importing pork
As such, Hasnizan appealed for the government to conduct a more comprehensive study if it intends to identify alternative locations for pig farming, saying that such decisions should not be “announced first and ask the public to accept it.”
Any selection of a new location, he stressed, must be preceded by an environmental impact assessment, a social impact assessment, and public engagement sessions involving the local community before any policy decision is announced.
“I suggest that if the Selangor government finds no suitable new location for pig farming, it should simply import pork, just as beef is imported because domestic supply is insufficient,” he added. - Mkini
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