Malaysia Veterinary Forum (Archive)

Dr. TanDY

Malaysia pig breeders protest state's order

Saturday, March 11, 2006

Source: The China Post

Ethnic Chinese pig breeders in mostly Muslim Malaysia are protesting an order in a southern state to shut their farms, claiming the move is politically motivated, activists said Friday.

The Veterinary Services Department in Malacca state has sent notices to 82 hog-rearing farms instructing them to close their premises and cease operations this month, according to a copy of the letter obtained by The Associated Press. No reason was given.

It was not clear if the order was linked to concerns about diseases, especially the Nipah virus that decimated hog farms in the area in 1999.

Malaysia is one of Southeast Asia's biggest pork producers, but pig rearing has long been a sensitive issue in this mostly Muslim nation that prides itself on racial tolerance.

Ethnic Malay Muslims, who comprise nearly 60 percent of Malaysia's 26 million people, consider pigs to be unclean. Pig farms are run by ethnic Chinese Buddhists and Christians, who constitute about a quarter of the population.

The letter said the state administration in Malacca ruled in April 1999 that pig farms should be phased out. It did not say why the decision was being enforced now. Department officials were not immediately available for comment.

"All livestock should be sold or transferred in a suitable way within 14 days of this letter's date," said the March 1 notice, which was received by the farms over the past week.

On Friday, farmers submitted a protest note to state legislators, criticizing the letter's warning that their premises would be seized if they fail to heed the order, said Goh Leong San, a member of the predominantly ethnic Chinese opposition Democratic Action Party.

"The farmers are fighting for their rights," Goh said. "We believe that this move has political motives to help the state government increase its popularity among Malays."

Goh claimed the 1999 decision to close pig farms was not publicly revealed until this month.

Dr. TanDY · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 9:30 pm Post subject:

I pity the pig farmers. They do contribute greatly to the Malaysian livestock industry. The authority should address this issue promptly and be fair to the farmers.