I refer to the Malaysiakini report Kuala Langat pig farm to proceed .

Some educated Malaysians are stooping low to harp on pig rearing in the country - craftily saying that it is not proper when they are on the wrong side of the political boundary. I must say that this hue and cry is more of a political pretext than the issue itself. Just imagine how immature can some people be when they are cloaked with political exigency. The frivolity in thought and actions by the mainstream media when commenting on this issue is indeed making the country feel so stumpy – turning it into a laughing stock in the eyes of others. Even Indonesia with the biggest Muslim population in the world does kick up a rumpus about pig rearing on their soil.

It is a pity that Malaysians have to be caught in petty squabbles that are overly insulting to the intelligence of the majority. Seemingly, even issues such as pig rearing have to be sensationalised for some cheap political mileage. Don’t they know that this lucrative trade has been there since time immemorial and our country’s politicians have been indifferent about it all this while?

It’s only when peevish politicians harp on it, the furore starts. Don’t intelligent people perceive this as dim-witted? From the economic sense, through this trade alone the country reaps about RM3 billion a year and nobody makes an issue out of this. Why? It’s because they see money coming in in terms of infrastructure, salaries, allowances, bonuses and other perks from this ‘sinful’ trade.

The menteri besar of Selangor was absolutely right when he was quoted as saying in the above report that the modern pig rearing project at Ladang Tumbuk, Kuala Langat should be carried out. He was quoted as saying that it should adhere to a high quality standard of cleanliness so it would not become an environmental brunt for the people. In other words, the ordinary natural balance of the environment would be preserved through the deployment of scientific means to convert the wastes into biogas for generating electricity and water to be used by the farm as well as for planting food for the animals.

In fact, a modern approach – as practised by Western countries – should be used throughout the country to make the whole process of pig rearing, slaughtering and processing tolerably clean. Many countries have overcome the taboo that pigs are habitually dirty by making their pig rearing industries adhere to stringent hygienic processes to cater for those who consume the meat. It has also become an economically viable industry in many parts of the world.

Unfortunately, pigs – through no fault of theirs - are condemned by many as a ‘dirty’ species and this God-made creature is tenaciously being used by some for political and religious wiliness. Delving into this state of affairs in this country is not going to make us any the wiser. The mainstream media should therefore not stoop so low to manipulate and exploit this issue just to appease the political nostalgia of some people.

The people now have become wise enough to make a distinction between what is real and what is propaganda. Stop insulting the people’s intelligence as this kind of politically spiced propaganda would only make people of other countries think of how small-minded Malaysians can be.