Sultan of Selangor says no to local pig farming, recommends importing pork

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has expressed his firm opposition to pig farming being conducted in any district within the state, recommending instead that the Federal government grant more licenses for pork imports.

The decree, issued via a statement, prioritises environmental protection and social harmony in Selangor.

A primary concern cited was the proposal by the state government to centralise pig farms in the state at Bukit Tagar in Hulu Selangor. Sultan Sharafuddin noted that the site is a Malay residential area and a Felda settlement, warning that such a move would “certainly face protests” from the residents.

He also highlighted the ecological risks, where waste and sewage discharge threaten rivers that supply clean water to Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya, and air pollution.

While modern “closed-house” farming methods exist to mitigate these impacts, Sultan Sharafuddin observed that they require significant expenditure that local farmers are unlikely to afford.

Furthermore, with Selangor’s limited land resources and high real estate values, the Ruler argued that land should be “rightfully utilised for more economic purposes” that offer broader community benefits.

To balance environmental goals with the dietary needs of the non-Muslim population, particularly the Chinese community, the Sultan proposed a shift in strategy.

“I recommend that the government grant licenses for the importation of pork to meet the demands and needs of non-Muslims. Not only would this resolve the long-standing issues surrounding pig farming, but it would also allow the state government to optimise land for other purposes.”

The statement follows recent moves by the Selangor state government to halt the Bukit Tagar project and expedite the closure of traditional farms.

On Jan 10, Sultan Sharafuddin expressed deep disappointment and had disagreed with the state government’s decision to permit large-scale pig farming operations in Kuala Langat and later in Bukit Tagar.