Perception Challenges
The Way Forward

 by Pahlawan Volunteers

While it is not our intention to blame, however it is vitally important to state clearly the misgivings and prejudices prevalent among Malaysian public officials, policy makers, the industry and the community at large.  They have contributed to the prejudicial development of the pig farming industry in this country.

The pig farming industry, endorsed and supported by the pork consumers and Community Organizations, seeks to build consensus with the Government, and to put an end to these grievances and misgivings once and for all.

In order to do this, it is important that we understand the perception of the various parties involved; the pork-eating consumers, pig farmers, and the Government authorities.

Perception Challenges

Pig Farmers’ Position:

1. The current crisis is NOT our fault.  JE existed in the country since 1951.  The current outbreak is NIPAH and NOT JE (see chronology of events). 

 
2. The unfortunate hasty indictment of JE and slow response to the crisis caused the loss of human lives and properties.  The Nipah tragedy undermined confidence and eroded credibility of some public officials.  The Government MUST accept responsibility and rebuild the industry.  It is almost inevitable that throwing away the pig farming industry is like throwing away valuable votes from the community, and continue to aggravate the hurt inflicted on one section of the population that had been prejudiced for pork eating and pig farming. 

 
3. The continued presence of some sub-standard farms is due to government policies regarding pig farming.  Challenges such as the short tenure of license, risk of conversion of land lease and the constant threat of closure by some politicians and officials in the state governments made it impossible for pig farmers to invest in proper infrastructure.  Such policy rendered the planning horizons for pig farming businesses extremely short and uncertain.  Thus, some of these farms just survive from one election to another.  In spite of these challenges, more than 70 percent of the farms in the country conform to environmental safety standards. 

1. It is the farmers' fault -- the way you farm and the way you run your business.  Farmers should thank the government for tolerating their existence. 
2. The current sentiment is this outbreak shows that the virus and the threat to human lives are too big a risk to keep pig farming in Malaysia. 

 

 

PIG FARMERS rebuttal: The high number of human deaths and its consequent financial and emotional toll on the nation is a consequence of government bureaucrats NOT listening to professionals and farmers. (See chronology).   In all livestock rearing countries and communities throughout the world, risk of disease exists.  It is a matter of how we monitor and manage a disease outbreak to minimize losses.  It is not about pig farming; it is about whether we have the capabilities to deal with the eventualities.

3. We are the only Muslim country in the world with a large pig population. 

 

 

CONSUMERS rebuttal:  Malaysians have the right to their meat preferences.  Just as we respect Muslim sensitivities, you must also respect the preferences of other communities.  The response should be why not.  Malaysia must celebrate this great diversity and move forward, from tolerance to RESPECT.

4. Pig Farming is NOT a very high value added economic activity.  Why should we feed Singapore?  AFTA will introduce a free trade area.  Malaysia allows Thailand to use our roads to feed Singapore.  We can also import pork. 

 

 

PIG FARMERS rebuttal:  Pig farming is a very high economic activity with over 50 times the economic yield of growing Oil Palm.  Moreover, total land devoted to pig farming is less than 10,000 acres, compared to millions of acres devoted to one single commercial group.  The issue is not about to feed or not to feed Singapore.  It is about high value returns market yet to be exploited to the fullest -- Malaysia, being a trading nation, has the proximity and geographical advantage to exploit the Asean market.  The appropriate response should be Why not Singapore?  If Malaysia is exporting its electronics and palm oil to far away markets, all the more reason we should develop nearby markets.

5. No more new land allocation as the State's governments’ sentiment is against pig farming.  Land is a State Government prerogative. 

 

 

PIG FARMERS rebuttal:  State Governments are made up of leaders from the ruling party of the Federal Government.  Apart from respect for cultural habits and guaranteeing constitutional rights of one section of the community, the Federal Government through its National Agriculture Policy provided for the proper development of the pig farming industry.  There is no reason and no excuse for state governments to contradict National policy.

6. If we reorganize pig-farming areas (PFAs), then the State has to accept the presence of pig farming for a long period. 

 

 

CONSUMERS rebuttal:  Why not?  Just as we have to accept the fact that Malaysia comprises of pork eating and non-pork eating communities.  The issue is not about race or religion (Chinese <pork eating> or Malay <Muslim>), the issue may well be between Pork Lovers (Chinese, Indians, others including tourists) and Pig is taboo (Muslim).  Bear in mind, not all Chinese Malaysians eat pork, and vegetarians obviously do not support livestock farming.  We simply find a mutually acceptable arrangement and making it work for ALL Malaysians and celebrate Malaysia’s diversity – the miracle of the world.

After several decades of troubled haggling and hurt feelings on the same old issues, we propose that all parties take this opportunity to heal wounds and have the will to give the pig farming industry its legitimate position and commit to its proper development.   It is therefore important that the issue of Pig Farming be addressed as a non-political, non-partisan, non-racial manner, paying attention and care to the sensitivities of all sections of the Malaysian community.  It is important to note that:
 

• The pork production industry must stop to be politicized, time and again. Pork Consumers do not care about the politics; they want cheap, high quality and safe pork produced in a healthy and non-polluting environment that fully respect the sensitivities of other community groups.  This is achievable with political will and a win-win spirit from all sides.  The acceptable arrangement need NOT ask any party to make sacrifices.

 
• The kind of pig farming industry we all want -- non-polluting, sustainable, competitive, safe and high quality.  The kind of pig farmers we want -- responsible, informed, efficient and productive.

 
• Guarantee the constitutional right of pork-eating Malaysians, if they choose to do pig farming to supply pork, we make the arrangement for this to be possible.

 
• As pork eaters and Muslims have lived together for hundreds of years on this land, we must treasure what we have achieved, celebrate it and move forward from here.  The Malaysian society must reject all political maneuvering on the pig farming issue that divides and polarizes its various communities.

 
• Unhygienic farming practices have not  been established as the cause of the Nipah viral encephalitis crisis.  The source of the virus is still unknown.  Pig farmers and pig farming must not be prejudiced for the occurrence of the crisis.  In fact, the farmers and their industry have become victims of the crisis.

In addition to the above, the following issues are pertinent:
 

• Pig farming must be retained because pork eating Malaysians including Chinese Malaysians want to continue to have supply of fresh warm pork. And the cheapest, safest and most dependent way is to have pig farms in Malaysia.   We should guide its development towards sustainable, safe and healthy standards.

 
• Importing warm pork is NOT possible and too risky.  Importing from neighboring countries like Thailand and Indonesia, and slaughtering onshore to have warm pork will end up with the same exposure to diseases and possible unknown emerging viruses as we are importing live animals.  It is also more expensive for consumers.

 
• Importing chilled pork is only a last resort where warm pork can not be produced within the country.

In order to fulfil all of the above objectives, FLFAM and various Community Organizations supporting the Pig Farming Industry are committed to see through the following necessary reforms, to be achieved in phases and in collaboration with the government:

Environment:  Proper environmental management programs will be instituted to achieve zero discharge.  For example, investment in proper recycling of waste management facilities.  We look forward to the government to make this possible by the certainty of pig farming licenses and making additional land surrounding existing pig farmers to be converted to pig farming so that a proper buffer zone/green belt can be achieved.  If we can allow or provide for a 30sq meters space for each SPP, appropriate green belt can be used to separate the herd from the surrounding villages and separate the pockets of animal herds for more effective disease control.

Veterinary Standards and Animal Health: The industry must not view such standards as a regulatory requirement, and do the minimum to achieve them. They should be viewed as necessary pre-requisites of meeting consumer satisfaction.  Consumers in Malaysia want safe and healthy meat from responsible farmers.  In today's competitive world, the market will eventually reject any farming practices that do not deliver such standards.  Proper quarantine procedures and facilities must be built in order to control and contain possible animal diseases brought in through imported herds.

Efficiency and Productivity
Apart from fulfilling environmental and veterinary standards, the conditions to be attached to the renewal of licenses should centered on the efficiency and productivity of the farms.  For example

• The licensee/farmer must manage his or her own farms.
• The farmer must obtain a certain number of hours of farming education and training to ensure he is updated with latest developments.

Optimality and Sustainability
Farms and farmers must not grow and expand with no regards to sustainability and the negative impact it would have on the environment. The size of livestock population must be managed in order to prevent wasteful competition in the final market and stress on the environment.  All these can be achieved by proper supply management through  sow quotas.
 
 
 
 
 

Viral Encephalitis BattleGround
 

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