CAP Concerned of Pig Waste and Head Polluting River and Sea

CAP is concerned of pollution from pig waste and head in some areas in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, as reported in the media recently. The pollution problem had not only caused adverse impact on the environment but also affected the lives of local residents and aquatic life in the area.

Local community in Tanjung Sepat, Selangor have endured the problem of foul odour for the past 50 years. Besides this, the pig waste has polluted the drainage systems, rivers and the sea nearby.

While in Negeri Sembilan, dumping of pig heads in a river meandering Kampung Sungai Legong Jaya near Rembau has sparked pandemonium and distress among the local community.

The river water in the village was not only used for watering plants. It is feared that pig waste has contaminated intake to a nearby water treatment plant which supplies water to consumers in the surrounding area.

CAP is perplexed on how such problems can occur and no concrete action has been taken by the authorities even though it has long threatened the environment and affected the lives of residents in the said areas.

CAP believes that if this problem is left unresolved, serious adverse effects particularly those involving public health will occur in the future.

Thus CAP urges both the state governments of Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, and relevant departments and agencies to give serious attention to this problem, in addition to strictly enforcing related regulations.

A detailed study taking into account the environmental and socio-economic impacts should be conducted by the government before approval is given for pig rearing.

Strict penalties should be imposed on pig farmers who violate their licensing conditions, the Environmental Quality Act 1974, regulations under the purview of the local authority or carry out their venture illegally.

CAP also calls on the state governments of Selangor and Negeri Sembilan to make public actions taken to resolve these pollution problems and reveal the current situation regarding this matter.

Press Statement, 4 February 2014