Selangor wants to ban pig farms

Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has called for a total ban in this state of the Malaysian federation due to fears of water pollution and limited land availability. The issue is also a source of controversy between groups and compromises harmony. The proposal is to increase imports for those (non-Muslim expats) who eat pork.

Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews) - Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has called for a total ban on pig farms in Selangor, the most developed state but with strong Islamic religious connotations, citing environmental concerns, limited land availability and the need to preserve social harmony.

In a statement released by the Royal Office of Selangor, which is also the most populous territory in Malaysia, the local leader clarified that the ban applies to all districts, without exception, with a generalised ban. The sultan then urged the authorities to close the issue definitively, as it is a source of controversy between groups and compromises peace and harmony in the state.

Behind the ban lies the state's deep-rooted Muslim tradition, according to which pork is forbidden and pig farms themselves are a source of tension. “All parties are urged to respect the Sultan's appeal,” reads a statement, “and to work together to preserve the unity and harmony of Selangor”.

In addition, to meet the dietary needs of non-Malaysians, he proposed that the government issue additional licences for the importation of pork, rather than allowing pig farms to continue operating locally.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has stated in the past that pig farming is not a problem in itself, but he stressed that such activities should not be carried out in proximity to residential areas, taking into account the sensitivities of the surrounding communities.

Sultan Sharafuddin welcomed the head of government's comments, while reiterating his concerns and fears related not only to religious issues but also to unpleasant odours and water pollution in areas surrounding farms.

The sovereign expressed particular concern about the potential contamination of reservoirs and rivers that supply clean water to the Klang Valley, home to millions of residents. “Although air and river pollution can be mitigated through modern agricultural techniques, this requires a substantial financial investment,” said Sharafuddin Idris Shah, “which cannot be sustained by farmers who only supply pork to Selangor”.

Furthermore, there would be no guarantee that even modern systems could completely and safely prevent water pollution. The Sultan reiterated that neither large-scale nor small-scale pig farming is suitable for Selangor due to the limited availability of land, which should instead be used for housing or other development projects that would better serve the population.

Demographic context

Selangor is the most populous state in Malaysia, with approximately 7.5 million inhabitants. The population is composed of approximately 55% Malays and Bumiputera, 25% Chinese, 7-8% Indians and approximately 10% other ethnic groups or expatriate communities.

From a religious point of view, the vast majority are Muslim, while Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and other faiths make up the remainder. Non-Malay communities, which account for almost 45% of the population, are the main consumers of pork.

The Sultan's request to import pork and eliminate local farms is seen as a measure to meet these food needs while protecting the environment and maintaining social harmony. The Sultan's intervention prompted the state government to abandon a proposal to centralise pig farming activities in Bukit Tagar, Hulu Selangor.

The plan was part of a long-term strategy to phase out pig farms in Tanjung Sepat, an area that has seen repeated complaints from residents. There are about 30 pig farms remaining in Tanjung Sepat. All are expected to close by the third quarter of this year, when they will no longer be allowed to renew their operating licences.

• Malaysia
• Islam
• Selangor
• fundamentalism
• Sharia law
• pork
• economy