Penang committed to sustainable, well-regulated pig farming, says state exco

State Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye said the Penang government had also introduced new regulations requiring breeders to upgrade their technology, knowledge and expertise, particularly in environmental cleanliness, waste management and effluent discharge control. — AFP pic

First Published: Friday, 06 Nov 2026 6:19 PM MYT

TASEK GELUGOR, Nov 6 — The Penang state government is committed to ensuring that the pig farming industry in the state continues to be managed in an orderly and sustainable manner through more systematic management, close monitoring and effective enforcement of regulations.

State Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye said this approach would allow the industry to continue operating and growing in line with legal requirements and standards without compromising environmental sustainability.

“The state government has never shied away from acknowledging the pollution caused by improper management of pig farming waste in the past; instead, we have taken corrective measures to ensure the issue is addressed comprehensively.

“As a responsible state government, we are prepared to admit our shortcomings, confront the problems and seek solutions, rather than evade responsibility or eliminate the industry as a way out,” he said in a statement today.

He was responding to Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan’s call for the pig farms in Kampung Selamat to be closed immediately during a recent parliamentary debate.

H’ng highlighted that the state government is carrying out proactive measures to address pollution in Sungai Kereh, particularly to restore and improve the river’s water quality.

These efforts, he added, have also drawn recognition from Permatang Berangan assemblyman Mohd Sobri Saleh during a recent state legislative assembly sitting.

He said the state government had also introduced new regulations requiring breeders to upgrade their technology, knowledge and expertise, particularly in environmental cleanliness, waste management and effluent discharge control.

At the same time, he said, breeders are given reasonable space and opportunity to upgrade their technology and farm management practices to meet higher environmental protection standards, while the pig farming industry contributes to the agricultural production sector and stimulates the supply chain.

Responding to Wan Saiful’s suggestion that the government helps breeders transition to other economic sectors through training and assistance, he opined that such an approach would indirectly still lead to the closure of the industry as its ultimate goal.

Accordingly, he urged the MP to obtain a more comprehensive picture of the state government’s efforts and actions before making statements on the pig farming and pollution issue in Seberang Perai Utara. — Bernama