February 23, 2023

Pig farm in Kedah, Malaysia, ordered to close for suspected pollution

A pig farm in Kedah, Malaysia, was ordered to shut down immediately after it was suspected of releasing farm waste, causing pollution in Sungai Kulim and Sungai Air Merah.

Penang Agrotechnology, Food Security and Cooperative Development Committee chairman Fahmi Zainol said the directive was issued by the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) after the farm, which is located in Sungai Lembu village, was found to be operating without a valid licence.

"After an inspection, the DVS instructed the owner to vacate the premises and arrange for the pigs to be moved to the slaughterhouse," Fahmi said.

He added that as the number of livestock on the farm was substantial, the transfer would have to be done in stages, adding that DVS would take further legal action against the farm owner in addition to issuing a compound notice.

On February 18, local media reported that the Kedah DOE found suspected pig farm waste discharge from a Sungai Lembu farm.

Kedah DOE director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said several ponds were found releasing effluents into Sungai Air Merah which then flow into Sungai Kulim where the farm area is about three kilometres away from the confluence of the two rivers. She highlighted that the Toh Allang Water Treatment Plant (LRA) in Sungai Kulim which supplies water to Penang is located about seven kilometres where Sungai Kulim and Sungai Air Merah merge.

Meanwhile, Penang DOE director Norazizi Adinan informed that the department had taken samples from five locations for testing, and if the complaints are substantiated, follow-up actions including legal action would be taken against the farm owner.

— Bernama