The Selangor government expects the clearance of all pig farms in Tanjong Sepat, Kuala Langat, to be completed by October, marking the end of pig farming operations in the area.
Selangor Infrastructure and Agriculture Committee chairman Datuk Izham Hashim said the timeline would allow the remaining piglets to reach the appropriate age of seven to eight months before they are culled.
He said only about 12,000 pigs remain in Tanjong Sepat, a significant drop from approximately 240,000 before the phased clearance exercise began.
“We decided in February to allow the remaining piglets to be disposed of once they reach seven to eight months of age.
“This means the clearance process is expected to be completed around September or October. After that, the exercise will be fully concluded,” he told reporters on Thursday.
Earlier, Izham officiated the Selangor Integrated Coastal Management Plan Review Workshop.
He said the Selangor Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) is currently conducting an audit to determine the actual number of pigs still remaining in the area.
According to Izham, the clearance is being carried out in stages to give farmers sufficient time to manage their remaining livestock, unless a disease outbreak requires immediate intervention.
“I am confident the latest DVS audit will show that the number has dropped even further, possibly by half,” he said.
Izham added that the state government has instructed the DVS and appointed consultants to assess the level of soil contamination in the area ahead of rehabilitation works.
“We want a complete assessment of the land’s condition so that restoration can be carried out effectively.
“Pig farming has been carried out there for up to three generations, and many families have lost their livelihoods. We want to rehabilitate the land so it can provide them with new sources of income,” he said.
He added that the state government is also in discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to seek federal assistance for land rehabilitation and to help former pig farmers transition to alternative livelihoods.
Some former farmers have already begun switching to crops such as lime as part of the transition, he said.
