PIG farmers in the state have until end of this year to submit their building plan to the local councils to convert their farms into a closed system.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that the state is committed to implementing the Pig Farming Enactment 2016 to ensure that pig farming is done in a closed system, so that the pollution caused by the industry can be contained and avoided.
“We have 166 pig farms in Seberang Perai and 44 have submitted their building plan to the council to be processed and approved.
“One application has been approved and the owner has converted its piggery in Valdor into a closed system.
“These farmers know that they need to comply with the regulation and to modernise their farm,” Chow told reporters after a meeting with the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC) today.
On a separate matter, Chow said that Penang-based companies are competitive.
“From our record, at least 90% of the building contracts from government agencies were awarded to Penang-based companies or contractors.
“These contracts were awarded based on their tenders, track record and performance. This shows that Penang-based companies are competitive,” he said.
The PCCC delegates together with Chow, Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy, state executive council member Dr Afif Bahardin, Chow’s political secretary and Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng and Penang Development Corporation (PDC) general manager Mohd Bazid Abd Kahar also discussed other matters during the meeting such as the Penang International Airport expansion, the proposed Kulim International Airport, Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) and the consent fees imposed by PDC to control the type of development on PDC industrial land in the industrial zone.
PCCC president Datuk Seri Hong Yeam Wah thanked the Penang government for the fruitful meeting.
“We hope to work together with the Penang government for the betterment of the state,” Hong said.
Among those present was PCCC executive advisor Datuk Seri Choot Ewe Seng.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad
Video by Chan Kok Kuan