Has the Selangor Sultan’s decree for a total ban on pig farming in the state been weaponised by opportunistic politicians from PAS—and UMNO?
Last Wednesday (May 20) Bukit Aman CID director M Kumar confirmed that police were investigating former DAP lawmaker Tony Pua over a Facebook post regarding the royal institution and the Rukun Negara. This was after dozens of police reports were lodged against the latter nationwide.
Pua had argued that the powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Malay Rulers were limited to specific areas like Malay customs, Islam, and roles like appointing Menteris Besar or dissolving state assemblies.
In short, he explained that the citizens here do not live in a system where the monarch can issue binding decrees that dictate every aspect of their lives.
This latest uproar was ignited after the Selangor Sultan publicly advised former DAP stalwart Ronnie Liu and assemblywoman Wong Siew Ki to read the Rukun Negara weekly to become civilized citizens who respect the crown.
His Royal Highness even decreed that all Selangor assemblymen must gather twice a month at Dataran Selangor to recite the Rukun Negara. Incidentally, Wong had earlier proposed a modern closed-system pig farming in Selangor—which was perceived by critics as challenging the Sultan’s earlier decree demanding a total shutdown of all such activities.
PAS enters the pig debate!
Meanwhile, PAS has caused a stir after likening this latest controversy to other racially-linked incidents in the country which it alleged would further add to the polarisation of Malaysian society.
Its secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan alleged that the recent remarks (by DAP leaders) should not be viewed in isolation, but as part of a wider pattern of issues that risk undermining national unity, including the government’s recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) and the use of Chinese language in official government documents, among others.
But what has Chinese language got to do with the Sultan's decree?
Truth be told, back in 2021, didn't Takiyuddin himself face immense pressure to apologize to the King after he had announced the revocation of the Emergency Ordinances, allegedly bypassing the Agong?
Then in 2023, a police report was filed against PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang for openly defying the Sultan of Terengganu’s decree banning politicians from delivering religious talks in mosques.
More recently, in February 2024, the Selangor Sultan himself had admonished Hadi over an open letter that belittled the royal institution and the judiciary. His Royal Highness had labelled the remarks ill-mannered and divisive while urging political leaders not to exploit Islam and tarnish the sanctity of the religion for the sake of their own political interests.
Given this history of repeated friction with the Rulers, does the Islamist party really possess the moral high ground to point its finger at others? As advised by the Selangor Sultan, shouldn't its leaders also bother to read and heed the Rukun Negara and the Federal Constitution?
So did Pua disrespect the Sultan, or was he merely clarifying what is enshrined in the Federal Constitution?
Interestingly, even Tengku Zafrul—a senior political adviser to PM Anwar Ibrahim and who himself hails from a royal lineage—recently stressed that Rulers’ "decrees" are not executive directives in the way certain politicians have knowingly or unknowingly “interpreted” them.
Truth be told, the Sultan’s concerns have valid merits as irresponsible pig farming has caused genuine hygiene and pollution issues. Furthermore, as the head of Islam in Selangor, he has a sacred duty to address matters involving pigs, which are highly sensitive to the Muslim community.
As the state ruler, the Sultan has every right to voice his displeasure. Full stop!
But the reality is, it is also a highly sensitive issue to a vast majority of the Chinese population here as pork consumption is interwoven with their centuries-old culture, customs and traditional beliefs. It's also an integral part of the community's dietary needs—just as daging (beef) is to some communities.
In a broader context, given the inevitable social and economic fallout, some might be compelled to ask: wouldn't it badly affect the lives, and the “rice bowl” of thousands of businesspeople across the state—from small-scale hawkers to major restaurateurs—who would be forced to pay exorbitant prices for imported pork?
There is also the thorny issue of compensation to the pig farmers and their resettlement in other states. But what if other states decide to follow the precedent set by Selangor? In that regard, what some deeply concerned members of the public may wonder is: could this issue potentially open the floodgates to other such delicate matters relating to constitutional rights?
Given the deep, cross-cultural sensitivities, the burning question remains: why must PAS link this issue to wider racial tensions in the country while using the Sultan’s “decree” as ammunition to attack its political enemies? Ultimately, isn't that itself a greater affront to the Royalty?
Main information source: Malaysiakini, FMT, Vibes, Star and The Sun.
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