Pig farming row: What Wong said and what was 'lost' in translation

 

Seri Kembangan assemblyperson Wong Siew Ki has been caught in the crossfire after urging the Selangor government to reconsider its approach to pig farming, including exploring modern and regulated systems.

The DAP lawmaker was accused of being “treasonous” by raising the issue, as the Selangor ruler, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, had previously decreed that there shall be no further pig farming in Selangor.

However, a review of her speech at the Selangor state assembly on April 22 shows that Wong did not explicitly call for the unrestricted return of pig farming, but instead proposed a reconsideration of how the industry is managed.

Here is what transpired.

Adopt modern system

During the debate on the state ruler’s royal address, Wong proposed that Selangor adopt a modern, closed-house pig farming system, including zero-discharge processes and biogas recycling technologies.

As a pioneer state, Selangor shouldn’t shy away from challenges and seek modern and sustainable alternatives to the issue, she said.

Additionally, Wong also touched on equality rights under Article 8(2) of the Federal Constitution, claiming that pig farming should not be singled out compared to other livestock, as all forms of animal farming carry environmental risks.

She also expressed regret that various parties, including former politicians, had politicised the issue.

Malaysiakini is also reproducing Wong's original Bahasa Malaysia speech text for transparency:

“Seri Kembangan menjunjung kasih atas keprihatinan Tuanku terhadap kesejahteraan rakyat Selangor tanpa mengira kaum, agama dan budaya, serta terhadap kelestarian alam sekitar. Seri Kembangan bersetuju bahawa sebarang aktiviti industri atau penternakan tidak boleh dikompromi sekiranya menyebabkan pencemaran alam sekitar.

“Namun demikian, Seri Kembangan berpandangan bahawa Selangor sebagai negeri peneraju tidak seharusnya mengelak daripada cabaran. Sebaliknya, kita perlu mencari penyelesaian yang lebih moden dan mampan. Mengenai isu penternakan babi dalam titah ucapan, Seri Kembangan memohon ampun Tuanku, menyembah bahawa isu ini juga menyentuh hak kesamarataan warganegara yang terjamin di bawah Perkara 8(2) Perlembagaan Persekutuan.

“Penternakan babi tidak seharusnya dibezakan daripada penternakan haiwan yang lain. Risiko pencemaran, aspek kebersihan serta kesihatan dalam penternakan babi adalah sama seperti yang dihadapi oleh penternakan haiwan lain. Namun begitu, amat dukacitanya, seperti yang dibangkitkan dalam titah ucapan Tuanku, isu penternakan babi telah dijadikan sebagai isu politik dan dimainkan oleh pelbagai pihak, termasuk bekas ahli politik di luar sana.

“Sehubungan itu, Seri Kembangan memohon pertimbangan agar diberikan ruang kepada kerajaan dan para pelabur untuk meneroka sistem penternakan tertutup dan moden, termasuk konsep ‘zero discharge’ melalui teknologi kitar semula sisa kepada biogas dan tenaga elektrik. Sistem ini telah terbukti berjaya di negeri-negeri lain, dan Selangor tidak seharusnya ketinggalan.

“Tambahan pula, kebergantungan sepenuhnya kepada import bagi sumber makanan adalah berisiko dalam jangka panjang.”

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Selangor pig farm saga

On Jan 8 last year, Selangor executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Izham Hashim announced plans to centralise pig farming in the state, with farms in Tanjung Sepat, Kuala Langat, to be relocated to Bukit Tagar in Hulu Selangor.

The Bukit Tagar project was intended to adopt modern, high-tech farming methods to address long-standing pollution issues affecting nearby residents.

Selangor exco Izham Hashim

These included enclosed operations, zero-discharge systems and biogas recycling technologies.

However, the announcement sparked a peaceful protest on Jan 9, with more than 200 pig farmers and industry stakeholders objecting to what they described as excessively harsh conditions.

They urged the government to relax the requirements, arguing that without funding or technical support, expecting farmers to self-finance costly upgrades within a short timeframe was unrealistic.

Royal opposition

The situation escalated on Jan 10 when Sultan Sharafuddin issued a statement through his office opposing the renewal of licences for pig farms in Tanjung Sepat.

He also challenged assemblypersons to live near farms to better understand the issues residents face. - Mkini