AMPANG, Jan 23 — The Selangor government is committed to addressing pollution from pig farms in Tanjung Sepat, with modern farming initiatives that will guarantee environmental cleanliness and local residents’ well-being, state executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Dato’ Izham Hashim said.
He said the opposition’s statement on the issue is a politically motivated accusation and doesn’t reflect the state government’s true efforts.
“The pollution issue isn’t new and has been going on for a long time, and is among the reasons the state government introduced the modern pig farm in Bukit Tagar.
“Last time, the number of farms and level of pollution in the area was higher by far, but (both) have been significantly lowered with various improvements and integrated initiatives,” he told Media Selangor in a statement today.
Izham added that the state government is responsible for ensuring the issue, which has gone on for over 30 years, is effectively addressed with comprehensive solutions and continuous monitoring.
He said modern farming methods won’t just improve industry efficiency, but ensure a higher level of cleanliness and lower risk of pollution to the environment.
His statement was released before Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim spoke about delaying or finding another location for the central pig farm in Bukit Tagar.
On Wednesday, several PAS leaders claimed that waste from Tanjung Sepat pig farms were being dumped into the Strait of Malacca without proper sewage management.
The PAS leaders also asked whether the Environment Department (DOE) and Veterinary Services Department (DVS) were monitoring the issue.
Previously, Media Selangor reported that the Selangor government would hold talks with landowners to rehabilitate land in Kuala Langat on which pig farms are housed, to prepare it for other agricultural activities.
Izham said most of the farmland is in an oil palm plantation zone, and that landowners are free to decide what agricultural activity they wish to pursue on their own plots.
