Malacca extends deadline to pig farmers

Friday September 21, 2007

MALACCA: Oct 4 is the new deadline given by the state government to reduce the number of pigs in farms in Paya Mengkuang, Bukit Beruang, Man Lok and Londang.

Masjid Tanah MP Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop said the initial deadline today was extended because the pig farmers had managed to take out only 23,824 pigs, with another 97,241 pigs still remaining.

Abu Seman, who heads the state government committee monitoring the process to reduce the pig population, said the farmers also agreed to close all pig farms in Man Lok, Bukit Beruang and Londang by Oct 4.

“After Oct 4, the government will ensure that only 48,000 pigs are allowed in Paya Mengkuang,” he said.

Abu Seman, who is also Deputy Federal Territories Minister, said five pig farms in Man Lok would cease operations today while another five farms in Man Lok, Bukit Beruang and Londang would close on Sept 30.

“Another 15 farms in Man Lok and Bukit Beruang will cease operations on Oct 4,” he said, adding that the state government would monitor their closure. The agreement was reached following discussions between state MCA officials and the farmers to solve the issue.

The initial deadline to reduce the number of pigs in the state from 140,000 to 48,000 was agreed upon when the state called off an operation to cull pigs two weeks ago.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Datuk Mah Siew Keong, who visited the farms in Paya Mengkuang yesterday, said the director-general of the Veterinary Services Department and its state directors had met in Putrajaya to draw up guidelines for sewage treatment at pig farms.

In PUTRAJAYA, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the farmers had to adhere to the agreement for the Malacca state government to be flexible in its deadline.

“The state government has agreed to be flexible, including in the deadline, to solve this issue, provided the farmers keep their commitment,” he said after witnessing the signing of an agreement between Felda and Indonesia’s PT Kalpataru Investama on planting of oil palm in East Kalimantan.