About 70 livestock farmers brought along 30 trucks loaded cows, water buffaloes and goats, to stage a protest in front of the Selangor state secretariat in Shah Alam today.

Their action was also to apply pressure for the resignation of state agriculture exco Yaakob Sapari.

cow protest to selangor suk 280909 02 The protesters claimed that the state government and the local council have not given them assistance after a landslide from an illegal landfill took its toll of their livestock.

The incident occurred in Sungai Tua Ulu Yam last week.

Selangor Livestock Breeders Association chairperson Samad Kassim told reporters that two farms were affected by the landslide, in which 10 heads of cattle were buried.

One of the farms is licensed while the other one is located on TNB reserve land.

However, Samad said there is no reason for the state and local governments not to offer help.

"We are one of the main contributors to Selangor's economic growth, but how come they are not doing anything to help us? We are also investors," he said.

More livestock deaths from disease

Stating that some of the carcasses still lie buried under the rubbish because no one has bothered to clean up the mess, Samad feared that this may cause the spread of disease among the surviving livestock which may lead to more deaths.

cow protest to selangor suk 280909 placards However things calmed down when Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim's political secretary Nik Nazmi Nik Nazmi emerged from the state secretariat and informed the protestors that Yaakob agreed to meet with the association leaders representing them.

Earlier, Samad argued that no state exco leaders especially Yaakob has come down to the affected areas to give a hand to the farmers.

"Except for one MP councillor Zulkifli Hamzah who blamed us for what happened and accused us of running illegal farms," he said.

However, Samad thanked the veterinary department and several contractors for giving aid to the animals and burying the carcasses.

"We urgently need help and don't say that we own illegal farms. We just want an alternative site for the livestock as we do not want them to die because of this," he added.

"But I am still disappointed with Yaakob as he has disappeared since the incident," said Samad.

According to him, the association has sent a letter to Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim asking the state government to rebuild the displaced farms with modern buildings.

"But until now, there is no reply from him or the state exco," he said.

State gov't to help within a week

After a 30-minute meeting with Yaakob, Samad told reporters that the state government will assist the farmers within a week by deploying machinery to clean up the mess.

"They also promised to rebuild temporary shelter for the livestock and provide clean water everyday until an alternative land is identified," he said.

cow protest to selangor suk 280909 06 Later at a press conference, Yaakob clarified that the state government, through its veterinary department, has assisted the farmers a day after the incident occurred.

"On the third and fifth day, the veterinary department sent food to the livestock. Whenever we received a complaint, we would react to it immediately," said Yaakob.

He also stressed that the department is sending shelters to protect the livestock through its "rescue and save" process.

"We have ordered some shelters and they are already on their way. The department is also reporting to me everyday on the latest development and will come up with a full report this Wednesday on the next course of action," said Yaakob.

He also said the loss incurred by the farmers has yet to be assessed.

He added, the state government has identified a 200-acre land in Hulu Selangor to be turned into a ruminant livestock farm for the soon to-be displaced farmers.

Earlier on Aug 28, a group of residents from Section 23 Shah Alam caused a major controversy by parading a cow's head in a protest against the state government over the proposed relocation of a Hindu temple to their neighbourhood.