GEORGE TOWN: Penang will intensify efforts to tackle pollution in Sungai Kereh, insisting that its causes must be established through evidence before action is taken against offenders.
State Local Government Committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye said the state government was taking the long-running pollution issue seriously, following calls by Tasek Gelugor member of parliament Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan to halt pig farming in the constituency and consider a nationwide ban.
Kampung Selamat, Tasek Gelugor, currently has 61 pig farms.
"Investigations must examine all potential pollution sources, including agricultural activities, waste disposal, drainage systems and other environmental factors.
"We are coordinating monitoring, inspections and enforcement with the Penang Department of Environment, local authorities, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage and other relevant agencies to identify the actual causes and ensure compliance with existing laws," H'ng said today.
The state Veterinary Services Department has put in place the Pig Farming Enactment 2016 and the Pig Farming Regulations (Penang) 2020, with monitoring covering closed-house farming systems, wastewater treatment and effluent discharged from treatment ponds.
H'ng said a multi-agency meeting on May 11 had outlined short- and long-term measures to improve waste management.
Under the immediate plan, solid and liquid waste from farms in Kampung Selamat is transported to a biogas plant in Ampang Jajar.
Waste from farms in Seberang Prai Tengah has been sent to the Kampung Valdor biogas plant since June 2026, while arrangements in Seberang Prai Selatan began in 2023.
A biogas facility has also been proposed for Kampung Selamat to provide a more sustainable, long-term solution.
Separately, H'ng said cleaning works at Parit Cina and Sungai Kereh were expected to begin in the first quarter of next year to remove accumulated sediment and improve water flow.
"The state will take enforcement action against those found violating regulations," he said, adding that the industry's economic contribution must not come at the expense of environmental protection and residents' well-being.
He said Penang would continue pursuing coordinated, practical solutions through modern technology, effective waste treatment and stricter enforcement.
Pollution in Sungai Kereh has been a longstanding problem, dating back as far as four decades.
Numerous protests have been held over the years against the worsening situation.
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