The Sept 21 deadline for Malacca pig farmers to drastically reduce the number of pigs reared looks unlikely to be met, setting the stage for another standoff between the pig farmers and state enforcement authorities.

The deadline was issued by the Malacca state government to control the number of pigs at 48,000 - from the present population of about 148,000.

The reason given to reduce to pig population was to combat pollution stemming from pig farms which discharged effluents into the waterways.

According to Sin Chew Daily today, 19,522 pigs have been culled to date, sold or exported to other states between Sept 4 and Sept 16, leaving another 79,119 animals to be handled before the deadline.

The voluntary culling was a result of a last-minute intervention by state MCA officials on Sept 4 when the state authorities were ready to forcibly slaughter the pigs to control their population.

Under the deal struck on that day, pig rearers were supposed to rid of 2,500 pigs a day until Sept 21.

Subsequently, the pig farmers were reportedly claiming that this could not be done due to several technicalities, such as insufficient abattoirs, market saturation and limited export permits issued by the Veterinary Department.

Cabinet intervention sought

Contacted today, state exco member Seah Kwi Tong said the matter would be brought up by MCA Malacca chief and Human Resource Minister Dr Fong Chan Onn at the cabinet meeting tomorrow.

Fong is expected to appeal for a cabinet order that would seek the Malacca government in accepting a revised schedule for the reduction of pigs in the state.

"We have tried our best to get the pig farmers to comply with the state government requirements. We are also unable to convince Menteri Besar (Mohd Ali Rustam) to grant the pig rearers more time," said Seah.

Seah and another state exco member Koh Nai Kwong have been tasked by the Malacca state government as intermediaries. Both of them represents the MCA.

Other political parties clamoring to show support for the pig farmers include Gerakan, DAP, PKR and PAS.

Injunction sought

On the pig farmers front, they are rallying Chinese guilds and associations to keep vigil outside their farms on the eve of the deadline on Thursday, in case the state government again attempts to forcibly cull their animals.

On Sept 4, state enforcement officials arrived at the Paya Mengkuang pig farms at 3am for culling operations but were stopped by the farmers. Police were subsequently called in, resulting in a standoff that lasted until 4pm that day.

Several pig farmers are also in the midst of preparing to file obtain an injunction on the expected state-led pig culling operation.

One of the pig rearers who would be a plaintiff in the suit declined comment on the suit.

Most pig farms in the state are not legal. It is uncertain if this would have any bearing on the suit.

In a related development, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak told Sin Chew Daily that the cabinet had ordered the Malacca government not to perform mass pig culling exercise.

"This is to avoid misunderstanding with (outsiders) that the government is using force to get the pig farmers into complying with regulations. We would find a formula which is suitable," he said.