UMNO Women’s Secretary, Rosni Sohar, has challenged claims by Seri Kembangan assemblywoman Wong Siew Ki that her proposal for modern pig farming in Selangor reflects the will of the people.
Rosni said that based on her frequent engagements with communities across the state and nationwide, the issue has never surfaced as a priority among the public. She stressed that most Malaysians remain focused on more pressing concerns such as the rising cost of living, increasing prices of goods, job opportunities, flood mitigation and long-term prospects for their children.
She questioned whether the so-called “people’s voice” cited in support of the proposal truly represents the broader Selangor population or merely a specific group. In general, public policy discussions involving sensitive matters require careful consideration and must be grounded in the real needs of the majority.
Rosni also cautioned against invoking the public’s name to justify controversial proposals, particularly when they are met with backlash. She emphasised that elected representatives must carry out their mandate with honesty and integrity, adding that the rakyat should never be reduced to a political shield.
According to her, the current priority should be addressing issues that directly affect daily life rather than fuelling debates that offer little practical benefit. Broader governance, she added, should centre on tangible solutions instead of divisive narratives that risk distracting from urgent national concerns.
Earlier, Wong Siew Ki defended her stance, saying her call to allow modern and closed-system pig farming was based on feedback from a segment of residents in her constituency. She maintained that as an elected representative, it is her duty to raise such matters in the Selangor State Legislative Assembly.
The proposal was brought up during her debate on the royal address by Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, where she urged the state government to consider exploring modern pig farming systems. However, the matter took another turn when Taman Medan assemblyman Afif Bahardin filed an emergency motion to refer her to the State Assembly’s Rights and Privileges Committee for further review.
The issue has since sparked wider debate, underscoring the challenge of balancing economic development proposals with public sentiment and societal sensitivities in Selangor.
