April 10, 2008

Malaysian Muslims protest Selangor's pig farm plan
 

Muslim residents of Malaysian state Selangor are protesting of a proposed construction of a large pig farm in the city's outskirts due to religious and environmental concerns.
 

About 200 people rallied outside the Selangor state government's office on Wednesday, handing a protest note to officials, according to national news agency Bernama.

The protest also comes in the form of angry letters that are published in the newspapers.

The protestants are upset as Islam considers pig unclean, and the decision may have been interpreted as a challenge to the official religion of Malaysia. They are also worried about the environmental damage that the pigs could bring.

Selangor's new state government had announced that it would be investing MYR 100 million (US$32 million) for the construction of a pig farm early next year.

Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, chief minister of Selangor, replied that the farm is environmentally safe and will be a centralised venue for all pig rearing activities in Selangor.

About 60 percent of Malaysia's 27 million people are ethnic Malay Muslims. Although Malaysia is one of Southeast Asia's largest pork producers, but the industry which is operated by ethnic Chinese, remain as a sensitive subject.