Sarawak ready to scale up live pig exports to Selangor, says Dr Rundi

KUCHING (Feb 10): Sarawak is ready to scale up its export of live pigs to Selangor following the recent decision by the Sultan of Selangor to prohibit pig farming in the state.

Sarawak’s Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the state has already been exporting live pigs to Selangor since last year.

“We are also open to supplying to other states that wish to import,” he told Bernama.

Asked whether the state government plans to expand or further modernise the pig farming industry in Sarawak, Dr Rundi said the state currently has a few smallholder pig farms and modern pig farms.

“We also have three large modern pig farms located in Simunjan, Ensengei and Selangau area,” he added.

Earlier it was reported that The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has not granted permission for pig farming to be carried out in any district in Selangor due to the risk of pollution that could adversely affect surrounding communities.

The Sultan’s private secretary, Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani, in a statement, said that His Royal Highness is of the view that pig farming could lead to air pollution through foul odours, as well as contaminate river water sources due to the discharge of animal waste and effluent.

Mohamad Munir said the Sultan recommended that the government consider issuing pork import licences to meet the needs of non-Muslims, particularly the Chinese community in Selangor.

He said this approach could help resolve the long-standing pig farming issue while allowing the Selangor government to optimise land use for other purposes, such as development and housing. – Bernama