The Selangor state government has been urged to conduct a detailed investigation before pointing fingers at pig farms as being responsible for river pollution in the state.

Kuala Langat Pig Farmers Association chairman Sim Ah Hock told malaysiakini today that the pig farmers should not become a scapegoat of the problem.

Selangor Environment Committee chairman Mokthar Dahalan said on Monday that Sungai Klang and Sungai Buloh are the most polluted ones; however, there is no pig farm along Sungai Klang and there are only two pig farms near to Sungai Buloh, said Sim.

Mokthar also said that the government had decided to ban pig farming in 2005 to reduce river pollution, and the final decision would be subject to federal government's approval.

He stressed that the state was serious in its effort to stop pig farming as a result of the findings by the State Department of Environment that pig farms have been causing major pollution, affecting six of the seven major rivers in the state.

'Extreme reason'

Eue Kong Loon, secretary of Sepang Pig Farmers Association, said the reason given by the state government is extremist and without basis.

"If the river is polluted by industrial wastes, would it mean that we need to ban industrial development?

"Since Sungai Klang is the most polluted, is the government going to close the factories along the river? " Eue asked.

To ban pig rearing is the worst way of resolving the issue, he said, adding that the government should instead help pig farmers by funding waste management projects.

Eue stressed that the pig farmers have made their best efforts in improving waste management; however, they lack capital to upgrade their systems.

"Maybe the government thought that we've not done enough, but we really need vast investment in the systems," Eue said.

Sim stated that in the past few years, pig farmers, together with the Veterinary Department, have visited Taiwan and Canada to learn about the waste management methods there, but a pig farm with 1,000 pigs needs about RM400,000 to build a good system.

Currently there are about 120 pig farms in Selangor compared with about 400 a decade ago.

"The state government needs to cooperate with the environment and veterinary departments," he said.

Inconsistent policy

Another problem faced by the pig farmers is the inconsistent policy of the government in the pig- rearing industry.

"They have to set a firm policy, and not one person saying one thing, and another saying something else, making us worried," Sim said.

Sim also referred to a case last month where several pig farms at Semenyih were ordered to move out within two weeks only.

"If the pig farmers have invested in waste management earlier, what can they do after receiving this order?" he asked.

Sim stressed that the government should decide on a permanent pig farming area, so that the pig farmers can improve on their farming methods.

He added that pig farmers associations in Selangor have discussed with the state government for over 10 years on establishing such a permanent area, but there has been no action so far.

"We have been asked to wait and see," he added