Seri Kembangan assemblyperson Wong Siew Ki has been caught in the crossfire after urging the Selangor government to reconsider its approach to pig farming, including exploring modern and regulated systems.
The DAP lawmaker was accused of being “treasonous” by raising the issue, as the Selangor ruler, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, had previously decreed that there shall be no further pig farming in Selangor.
However, a review of her speech at the Selangor state assembly on April 22 shows that Wong did not explicitly call for the unrestricted return of pig farming, but instead proposed a reconsideration of how the industry is managed.
Here is what transpired.
Adopt modern system
During the debate on the state ruler’s royal address, Wong proposed that Selangor adopt a modern, closed-house pig farming system, including zero-discharge processes and biogas recycling technologies.
As a pioneer state, Selangor shouldn’t shy away from challenges and seek modern and sustainable alternatives to the issue, she said.
Additionally, Wong also touched on equality rights under Article 8(2) of the Federal Constitution, claiming that pig farming should not be singled out compared to other livestock, as all forms of animal farming carry environmental risks.
She also expressed regret that various parties, including former politicians, had politicised the issue.
Malaysiakini is also reproducing Wong’s original Bahasa Malaysia speech text for transparency:
“Seri Kembangan menjunjung kasih atas keprihatinan Tuanku terhadap kesejahteraan rakyat Selangor tanpa mengira kaum, agama dan budaya, serta terhadap kelestarian alam sekitar. Seri Kembangan bersetuju bahawa sebarang aktiviti industri atau penternakan tidak boleh dikompromi sekiranya menyebabkan pencemaran alam sekitar.
“Namun demikian, Seri Kembangan berpandangan bahawa Selangor sebagai negeri peneraju tidak seharusnya mengelak daripada cabaran. Sebaliknya, kita perlu mencari penyelesaian yang lebih moden dan mampan. Mengenai isu penternakan babi dalam titah ucapan, Seri Kembangan memohon ampun Tuanku, menyembah bahawa isu ini juga menyentuh hak kesamarataan warganegara yang terjamin di bawah Perkara 8(2) Perlembagaan Persekutuan.
“Penternakan babi tidak seharusnya dibezakan daripada penternakan haiwan yang lain. Risiko pencemaran, aspek kebersihan serta kesihatan dalam penternakan babi adalah sama seperti yang dihadapi oleh penternakan haiwan lain. Namun begitu, amat dukacitanya, seperti yang dibangkitkan dalam titah ucapan Tuanku, isu penternakan babi telah dijadikan sebagai isu politik dan dimainkan oleh pelbagai pihak, termasuk bekas ahli politik di luar sana.
“Sehubungan itu, Seri Kembangan memohon pertimbangan agar diberikan ruang kepada kerajaan dan para pelabur untuk meneroka sistem penternakan tertutup dan moden, termasuk konsep ‘zero discharge’ melalui teknologi kitar semula sisa kepada biogas dan tenaga elektrik. Sistem ini telah terbukti berjaya di negeri-negeri lain, dan Selangor tidak seharusnya ketinggalan.
“Tambahan pula, kebergantungan sepenuhnya kepada import bagi sumber makanan adalah berisiko dalam jangka panjang.”
Selangor pig farm saga
On Jan 8 last year, Selangor executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Izham Hashim announced plans to centralise pig farming in the state, with farms in Tanjung Sepat, Kuala Langat, to be relocated to Bukit Tagar in Hulu Selangor.
The Bukit Tagar project was intended to adopt modern, high-tech farming methods to address long-standing pollution issues affecting nearby residents.
These included enclosed operations, zero-discharge systems and biogas recycling technologies.
However, the announcement sparked a peaceful protest on Jan 9, with more than 200 pig farmers and industry stakeholders objecting to what they described as excessively harsh conditions.
They urged the government to relax the requirements, arguing that without funding or technical support, expecting farmers to self-finance costly upgrades within a short timeframe was unrealistic.
Royal opposition
The situation escalated on Jan 10 when Sultan Sharafuddin issued a statement through his office opposing the renewal of licences for pig farms in Tanjung Sepat.
He also challenged assemblypersons to live near farms to better understand the issues residents face.
READ MORE: KINIGUIDE | The battle over Selangor’s pig farms
Following this, Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari announced that the Bukit Tagar project would be put on hold.
He later added that the state would no longer issue new pig farming licences, and that the closure of existing farms would be expedited in stages.
This came after Sultan Sharafuddin ultimately decreed that he does not consent to pig farming in any district in Selangor, citing pollution concerns and the state’s limited land resources.
It is against this backdrop that Wong’s speech at the state assembly revisited the idea of modern, regulated pig farming, a position that diverges from the state’s current direction.
Uproar in the state assembly
A day after her speech, commotion erupted in the Selangor state assembly after Perikatan Nasional representatives attempted to raise an emergency motion to refer Wong for disciplinary proceedings.
Opposition lawmakers argued that her proposal to consider modern pig farming systems was an affront to the sultan’s decree prohibiting pig farming in the state.
Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar had earlier called for disciplinary action against Wong, while Selangor BN information chief Jamal Yunos suggested she leave the state if she could not accept the royal position.
Sukri then announced on Facebook that he would protest at Wong’s service centre today, where a memorandum would be handed to the DAP representative.
In an immediate response, ex-Selangor legislative assembly speaker Teng Chang Khim suggested Wong’s office lodge a police report immediately and close her service centre tomorrow, to avoid any potential conflict.
He said PAS already has representation in the Selangor assembly and does not need to go to Wong’s service centre to stage a protest.
Wong had also since defended her remarks, stating that the proposal was based on feedback from residents in her constituency, Sinar Harian reported.
“I have already raised it in the assembly. Other matters are not my responsibility, and I do not wish to comment further,” she was quoted as saying.
Wong also said that she is prepared to face any action, including being referred to the rights and privileges committee over the matter.