Deputy Minister: Sabah should emulate Sarawak’s success in modernised pig farming

KOTA KINABALU (Jan 27): Sabah should emulate Sarawak’s success in managing pig farming through a centralised and modernised approach to ensure food security for the non-Muslim community while addressing environmental and social concerns, said Datuk Chan Foong Hin.

The Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister said the pig farming issue should not be viewed in isolation, as it encompasses environmental pollution, social norms and the constitutional right of non-Muslims to practise their way of life.

“Pig farming is not a single-issue matter. It involves environmental considerations, social sensitivities and, importantly, the rights of the non-Muslim community in this country,” he told reporters after officiating the Cultural Village exhibition organised by the United Sabah Chinese Communities Associations of Kota Kinabalu (USCCAKK) on Sunday.

Chan stressed that at its core, pig farming is a food security issue.

“When we come to the fundamentals of human life, it is about food security. Pork remains the major protein source for most non-Muslims in this country, just as some communities do not consume beef. These are basic realities that must be respected,” he said.

Acknowledging that pig farming does pose pollution risks, Chan noted that no livestock or poultry farming activity is entirely pollution-free.

“If you do not manage a chicken farm well, you will have fly problems. For ruminant farming like cattle, greenhouse gas emissions are higher. Each type of farming comes with its own environmental challenges,” he said.

To address these issues, Chan said the government is proposing two main approaches.

The first is the establishment of designated pig farm areas (PFA), where existing farmers are relocated to a single location, allowing pollution to be better controlled and modern facilities to be developed.

“In a centralised pig farm area, the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) can station meat inspectors on-site, with slaughterhouses located within the same area to ensure food safety and quality control,” he explained.

The second approach is modern pig farming, where existing farms can continue operating in their current locations but are required to transform into closed systems to better manage waste and pollution.

“So there are two options, centralisation or modernisation. The success story so far in Malaysia is Simunjan in Sarawak,” he said.

Chan pointed out that Sabah’s pig farm area in Tongod, which has existed since 2018, has yet to take off commercially despite federal funding of about RM22 million to RM23 million being spent on infrastructure development.

“I was informed that the Tongod PFA started around the same time as Sarawak’s, but Sarawak has moved far ahead,” he said, adding that the project faced challenges including Covid-19 disruptions and land issues.

In contrast, Sarawak’s Simunjan pig farm area now has the capacity to export about 120,000 pigs annually, mainly to Singapore and Selangor, with weekly exports of about 800 live pigs.

“This shows that when you reach economies of scale, you become competitive enough to export. Malaysia has no policy that prohibits pork exports,” he said.

Chan said he hopes to visit the Tongod site after the current parliamentary sitting.

“For me, this is very important because Sabah has a significant non-Muslim population. Their cultural way of life must be protected, and that includes ensuring stable food security,” he said.

He added that the federal government is encouraging farm modernisation across all livestock sectors through incentives, including accelerated capital allowances from 2023 to 2027.

“It is not that the federal government is doing nothing. Funds have been allocated, but implementation has been slow. We need to identify and overcome bureaucratic obstacles together,” he said.

Chan expressed optimism that closer cooperation with the Sabah state government and the current leadership would help move the initiative forward.

“I am looking forward to working hand in hand with the state government. I believe the current minister is more dynamic and active, and together we can make this work,” he added.