Malacca’s one and only abattoir for pigs must close its doors by the end of this month following an order by the state government.

The order, which was made last year, came with a promise to build a replacement abattoir which has yet to see the light of day, said DAP’s Ayer Keroh state assemblyperson Khoo Poay Tiong.

“We doubt the state government’s sincerity, we are worried when this is closed down, it will be for forever and a new one will never be built,” he said.

Khoo said the state government was insistent the abattoir must go by Feb 28 despite Putrajaya recommending that it be retained until the new abattoir in Alor Gajah is built.

A letter from the Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia sent to Khoo in November last year concurred with the view that the new abattoir should be built first but said its hands were tied as the state government refused the recommendation.

“The department recommended that the closure date of the pig abattoir at the Ayer Keroh slaughterhouse be delayed until the new centre begins operation.

“However, the Malacca exco member for agriculture disagreed and has fixed the closure date for Dec 31, 2013,” the letter read.

‘Still no new abattoir’

The deadline was later moved to Feb 28 this year, but not only has the new abattoir not been built, its proposed site had also been shifted, said Khoo.

Initially to be built in Sungai Baru Ilir, Alor Gajah, it has now been moved to Paya Mengkuang.

“I had visited the site few days ago and nothing is being built,” he said.

Khoo said the Malacca government’s previous failed attempt to shut down the Jonker Street night market in an apparent retaliation against Chinese voters in the last general election did not inspire confidence in this matter.

“The concern is that in the end there will be no new abattoir in an attempt to punish voters who did not support BN in the last election,” he said.

Khoo said some 20 pig farms in Malacca have been asked to send their livestock to Muar for slaughtering.

“Muar’s slaughterhouse is only for its own district, it is unlikely to be able to handle all of Malacca’s supply - that means prices of pork will eventually go up,” he lamented.