THE Penang government is currently in the process of introducing the Poultry Farming Enactment.
Penang Health, Agriculture, Agro-Based Industry and Rural Development Committee chairman Dr Afif Bahardin said the enactment would ensure that poultry breeders upgrade their farms to the closed-house farming system.
“A closed-house farming system is needed because it had been proven effective in addressing pollution and flies.
“Thus, we plan to table the enactment as early as this year at the State Legislative Assembly sitting.
“This issue is very important because until today, Penang is among the states that do not have such enactment,” Dr Afif told reporters after visiting the Hwa Huat Livestock Industries (commercial poultry farm) in Butterworth today.
Also present were Penang Veterinary Services Department (DVS) director Dr Anun Man, Bukit Tengah assemblyman Gooi Hsiao Leung and Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik.
On a separate note, Dr Afif said the state government did not suppress breeders regarding its recent announcement that requires livestock breeders to pay a minimum fee of RM4 per animal to the state DVS, from April 1 this year.
“It has been gazetted as a state law in June, 2008, but it was never implemented.
“The charges that we impose is the minimum amount, hence, there is no such thing as ‘suppressing the breeders’.
“The state DVS has conducted four series of engagement sessions in October last year. Some 450 breeders took part and discuss about the issue,” Dr Afif added.
Dr Afif’s was replying to the recent statement by Penang Pig Farmers Association chairman Wong Soon Ping who was reportedly saying that there was no engagement session conducted to discuss about the charges.
Dr Afif said that a special meeting was held on Dec 26 last year with pig farmers in the state.
“Wong also attended the special meeting,” he said.
On Feb 6, Dr Afif announced that a minimum fee of RM4 per animal would be imposed on breeders of livestock such as pigs, goats, sheep and deer, from April 1 this year.
The fees would be charged each time when an animal is transported out of a district or state.
All animals that are slaughtered, offered for prayers, used in cultural customs or breeding would also be charged with the fees.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud