Sultan Sharafuddin then decreed on Feb 10 that pig farming should not be allowed anywhere in the state. He said it could cause air pollution through foul odours and contaminate river water sources due to the discharge of waste and sewage.
There was a risk of polluting water catchment areas and rivers supplying treated water to Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, the ruler said.
He 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.
The government could grant licences for the import of pork to meet the demand and needs of non-Muslims in the state, he suggested.
Selangor currently produces 30 per cent of its pork needs and imports the rest from other states.
Following the decree, the Selangor state government announced it would stop issuing new pig farming licences and accelerate the phased closure of existing farms, moving towards 100 per cent imports.
Despite the royal decree, DAP’s Seri Kembangan assemblyperson Wong Siew Ki on Apr 22 proposed a modern, closed farming system.
She said pig farming should not be treated differently from other livestock industries, noting that modern technology could address concerns like pollution, hygiene and odour.
She cited Article 8 of the Federal Constitution, which touches on equality, to argue against singling out pig farming for a total ban.
“Pig farming should not be treated differently from other types of livestock farming. The risks of pollution, as well as hygiene and health aspects in pig farming, are identical to those faced by other livestock industries,” she said.
Wong said her proposal was based on feedback from constituents and aimed to find a sustainable way for the industry to exist within the state.
A massive backlash ensued in the state assembly and public arena, culminating in multiple police reports lodged against her for allegedly touching on sensitive issues.
Members of the opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN) attempted to table a motion to refer Wong to the Rights and Privileges Committee while the Selangor youth chapter of Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) – a party in PN – demanded her immediate suspension.
“Since the Ruler’s decree is clear that pig farming is no longer permitted in Selangor, any attempt to revive the proposal — even when wrapped in modern terminology like ‘zero discharge’, ‘closed systems’, and ‘biogas’ — still reflects an insolent attitude and a lack of respect for the institution of the Constitutional Monarchy,” Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar said in a statement on Apr 22.
PAS also staged a protest in front of Wong’s office on Apr 24.
DAP leaders have backed Wong, with secretary-general Anthony Loke saying that while it respects the royalty, the party also defends members’ right to speak up.
“As a member of the Legislative Assembly (Adun), they must have the space to convey views respectfully and in a proper manner. That is the responsibility of an elected representative,” Loke was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency on Apr 26.
DAP, which is multi-racial in outlook but predominantly Chinese in composition, draws much of its support from urban voters in big towns and cities across Malaysia.
With 40 parliamentary seats in the 222-member lower house, DAP supplies the most seats to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government.
