SPECIAL REPORT | PD POLLS | In the 1990s, Bukit Pelanduk, Negeri Sembilan, was a bustling town due to its pig farming industry which was the biggest in the country and possibly even the region.
Locals told Malaysiakini that Mercedes Benz cars were a common sight in the town as many pig-rearers had struck it rich.
By 1997, efforts were underway to ramp up production by a company known as Nikmat Maju Development Sdn Bhd which secured 480ha to be equipped with a high-tech sewerage system and a common abattoir.
Before the project could take off, however, the town and its economy was ravaged by the Nipah virus outbreak in 1999 causing 108 deaths. The government reacted by banning pig farming in the area and culling all pigs in the vicinity.
Today, Bukit Pelanduk and the surrounding outskirts are mostly populated by those who are too old to be economic migrants and have mostly turned to small-scale agriculture for income.
With the Port Dickson by-election taking place tomorrow, many of them have taken the opportunity to highlight their plight, especially to Pakatan Harapan’s candidate Anwar Ibrahim, in hope that they could one day return to doing what they do best.
What they want is for the Pig Farming Area (PFA) project by Nikmat Maju to be revived in Bukit Pelanduk at what is known as Tanah Merah Site A.
Dead town
Tan Tek Che, 66, has moved his pig farming operations to Tanjung Sepat, Selangor, and hopes that the present government will allow the PFA to continue because many residents had bought land there which is now left idle.
"Pig farming is my family business and I am a second generation pig farmer. I suffered RM1 million in losses back in 1999.
"I bought two acres of PFA land at RM320,000 back then. I want to continue in the business. With these two acres of land, I can rear 1,400 pigs.
"As far as I know, 40 of my friends who bought PFA lands want to continue pig farming in the PFA," he added.
Kampung Baru Tanah Merah Site C village head Wong Kok Lai, who also owns PFA land, said Anwar, at the very least, should work out a compensation plan for those affected by the Nipah virus outbreak.
"We, in Negeri Sembilan, never received any compensation while pig farmers in other states hit by the Nipah virus received compensation," he pointed out.
Low Ah Kong, 67, another landowner, turned his former pig farm into a palm oil estate but the returns were very poor. His wife had to take up a job out of town.
He said the Nipah virus outbreak had affected his health so badly that even if the pig farming ban was lifted, he was unlikely to be able to participate.
“I may not have a healthy body or the capital to take part, but at least we have an industry that can bring people back. Bukit Pelanduk is now a dead town,” he said, with a slight speech impediment which he attributed to a bout of the Nipah virus.
Hopes for an alternative
However, some residents told Malaysiakini that they have accepted their fate and that the pig farming industry will never return there.
Instead, they are looking forward to Sime Darby’s Malaysian Vision Valley (MVV), a 380,000-acre project meant to develop Sepang, Nilai, Seremban and Port Dickson announced in 2016 and meant to take place over 30 years.
Alex Lim, a former pig farmer in Bukit Pelanduk, said that it was time to move on and explore Bukit Pelanduk’s other potential such as tourism.
"For one, I see that we can make use of the mangrove swamps here to promote tourism," said the 53-year-old trader.
Michael Yek, the state assemblyperson for Chuah, where Bukit Pelanduk is located, acknowledged that Bukit Pelanduk residents are in two minds over what to do with their town.
He said it would be best if they could organise themselves and come to a conclusion.
"While some want (to go back to pig farming), others may disagree. If they want it, then I will fight for it but if they decide against it, I will listen to them,” said Yek, who is also the Negeri Sembilan PKR vice-chief.
Personally, he is in favour of the MVV, he added.
Yek’s predecessor Chai Tong Chai, however, believes that the MVV and the PFA can co-exist, saying that the PFA was located far from residential areas and would include a sizeable buffer zone.
"Pig farms are even allowed in Beijing. The farmers adopt the latest technology. It is closed-door operation without any smell," he said.
Money in four years
In the 1990s, the then federal government had envisioned the PFA as a benchmark for the pig farming industry in Bukit Pelanduk and drafted strict rules for farmers to obtain the necessary paperwork in order to sell their produce.
Those who participated in the PFA scheme would have to build their own pigsties and use the common abattoir and sewage infrastructure supplied by Nikmat Maju.
Chai, who is also the Port Dickson PKR division head, said he has brought up the issue with Anwar who in turn requested deputy agriculture and agro-based industry minister Sim Tze Tzin to follow up on the matter.
"The new government needs to decide soon as to whether it wants the PFA. If they say 'no' to the project, then they should compensate pig farmers according to market prices today," said Chai.
As it stands, the PFA zone is still gazetted for pig farming and a check will show that 167 lots of land there are still owned by former pig farmers, said Chai and Yek
Chai said if the government lifts the ban, then farmers would be able to obtain loans and get back into business.
“With this type of business, the pig farmers can make their money back in four years.
"I believe most of the pig farmers desire to return to their old business. Those who do not wish to do so, they may sell their land back to the developer," he said.
Malaysiakini was only able to query two of the Port Dickson by-election candidates on their response to the requests of the Bukit Pelanduk residents.
PAS candidate Mohd Nazari Mokhtar curtly said the Islamic party will study the matter on a case-by-case basis.
Anwar, upon approached by Malaysiakini, said "We will look into it. Let them come to me but not you." -Mkini
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