Kota Kinabalu: Sarawak’s live-pig exports to Selangor have become the focus of controversy despite the arrangement having been in place since July 2025, prompting Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin to hit back at claims that the policy is new or was implemented without proper controls.
Chan said the imports were approved under strict licensing and operating procedures, with the arrangement having been announced publicly and explained in Parliament well before the latest dispute.
He said it was misleading to portray the policy as a new development, stressing that the exports were part of efforts to stabilise pork supply and market prices following disruptions to the pig farming industry caused by African Swine Fever (ASF).
For Sarawak, the issue puts the spotlight on the state’s role as a supplier of live pigs beyond its borders, while raising questions about how animal health, biosecurity and transportation standards are maintained throughout the export chain.
Chan said the arrangement had been announced in July 2025 by Sarawak Minister of Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom during an official loading ceremony at Pending Port.
Further explanations had been provided by then Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, now Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister, and Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu through oral questions and written replies in the Dewan Rakyat.
Chan also cited clarification from Selangor Infrastructure and Agriculture Executive Councillor Datuk Ir Izham Hashim that the state had allowed the importation under strict conditions.
The pigs must be transported directly to a slaughterhouse in Rawang, with no stops at other locations permitted.
At Port Klang, unloading is restricted to between 8pm and 5am. The animals are transferred in specially designed cages directly onto lorries for delivery to the slaughterhouse.
Chan said the procedures were designed to minimise handling time, maintain orderly operations and reduce the risk of contamination and environmental disturbance.
He rejected allegations that the operation had compromised port cleanliness, saying such claims should be supported by credible evidence and assessed against the standard operating procedures already in place.
In April this year, Chan visited a modern pig farm in Simunjan, Sarawak, to observe operations and procedures for exporting live pigs to Singapore and Selangor.
He said he witnessed stringent biosecurity measures, including the use of livestock transport vessels that met prescribed specifications, underscoring the importance of managing animal health risks throughout transportation.
Chan also criticised attempts to link the issue to the decree of the Sultan of Selangor using what he described as inaccurate information.
He urged all parties to rely on verified facts and discuss the matter professionally, warning against statements that could create confusion or unnecessary public concern.
