August 19, 2025

 

Malaysia pushes efforts to fight pork smuggling and improve domestic production

 

 

 

Malaysia's Agriculture and Food Security Ministry is intensifying efforts to combat pork smuggling and strengthen domestic production in the face of Streptococcus suis and African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks.

 

Deputy Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup said the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis) and the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) have been taking firm measures, particularly against meat from countries with known outbreaks.

 

"For the period from 2024 until July 2025, Maqis successfully detected several smuggling attempts with a total of 24 cases amounting to 640 metric tonnes, Kurup said on August 18.

 

"The DVS also carried out 18 seizures of pig carcasses moved without authorisation, confiscating 114 metric tonnes in several states worth RM3.05 million."

 

Kurup was responding to a question from Sim Tze Tzin (PH-Bayan Baru) on Maqis' actions regarding pork imports and smuggling from abroad, especially from Thailand and other countries with outbreaks of Streptococcus suis and ASF. He said any illegal entry of pork would be met with action under the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011, which includes heavy fines and prosecution, while the Animals Act 1953 empowers the DVS to take further enforcement.

 

Kurup said the ministry will continue strengthening enforcement, expanding cooperation with neighbouring countries, and running public awareness campaigns to protect public health and the livestock sector.

 

On pork prices, he said the government is concerned about the impact of ASF and rising feed costs, which have reduced livestock numbers from 1.86 million in 2021 to just 1.24 million last year.

 

Kurup clarified that Malaysia's self-sufficiency level for pork stood at 67.8% in 2024.

 

"To bring prices down and ensure a stable supply, the DVS has facilitated the export of live pigs from Sarawak to Peninsular Malaysia," he said.

 

"So far, 1,600 pigs have safely arrived at Port Klang for slaughter," Kurup noted, adding that numbers are expected to rise in the coming months.

 

He said continuous engagement is being carried out with farmers and importers to manage challenges in farming and disease control effectively.

 

For the long term, the ministry is promoting modern pig farming and designated farming areas, including a new RM26 million (US$6.2 million) facility in Tongod, Sabah, which will introduce integrated farming systems, tighter biosecurity, and sustainable waste control.

 

He said that regulations would be tightened further through guidelines on closed and compartmentalised modern pig farming, which will eventually be mandatory for farms renewing their licences.

- New Straits Times