
African Swine Fever slashes Penang pig farms by 25pc, pork prices soar nationwide to RM18/kg
Published on: Thursday, May 15, 2025
Published on: Thu, May 15, 2025
By: Malay Mail Text Size: Penang is not the only state hit by ASF. - FMT pic for illustration only. Kuala Lumpur: The pig farming sector in Malaysia is still grappling with the aftermath of African Swine Fever (ASF), which producers say has had a lasting impact on livestock numbers and remains a key factor behind the ongoing surge in pork prices. In Penang alone, the number of pig farms has dropped by 25 per cent following a major outbreak last year, The Star reported today.
Advertisement 'There used to be around 160 farms, but now only about 120 are still operating,' Penang Pig Farmers Association chairman Wong Fu Sheng was quoted as saying. According to Wong, who runs a farm in Valdorin Sungai Jawi, the area with the highest concentration of pig farms in Penang, said the outbreak forced farmers to reduce livestock numbers to prevent overcrowding, which could accelerate the spread of the virus. 'ASF is still our biggest challenge. Many farmers are still recovering from the losses after having to cull their pigs to contain the outbreak,' he was quoted as saying. Wong added that it takes about a year to raise a pig from birth to slaughter. He also said that only about 20 farms remain in Valdor, down from 40 before the outbreak. Penang is not the only state hit by ASF. The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry previously confirmed that thousands of pigs were culled in Selangor and Melaka, resulting in a drop in pork supply and pushing prices higher. The Star reported that a whole local pig is priced at around RM1,800 per 100kg currently, up from RM1,300 to RM1,400 per 100kg a year ago. Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik, whose constituency is home to many pig farms, said the pig population had fallen drastically. 'From a peak of about 90,000 pigs, there are now only between 20,000 and 30,000 left,' he was quoted as saying. In addition to ASF, rising feed costs are putting further pressure on the industry. Wong said the price of maize, a key feed component, had spiked from RM800 per tonne before the Covid-19 pandemic to as much as RM2,000 at its peak. While the government has allowed imported pork to make up for local supply shortages, Wong urged consumers to verify the source of their meat. 'Local farms are strictly regulated. Many have adopted closed farming systems to reduce health risks, environmental pollution and to meet compliance standards. 'Consumers need to be aware that pork from some countries has been banned by health authorities. Always check that your pork is safe,' he was quoted as saying. Data from the Department of Veterinary Services, there were 401 pig farms in peninsular Malaysia and another 118 in Sabah and Sarawak as of 2023. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Express
4 hours ago
- Daily Express
No plans to contest in any by-election after leaving Umno: Tengku Zafrul
Published on: Monday, June 09, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 09, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: KUALA LUMPUR: Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz ( pic ) today clarified that he has never considered contesting in any by-election, either at the parliament or state level, following his exit from Umno and his announcement of intent to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) on May 30. In a statement posted on his social media today, Tengku Zafrul stressed that the possibility of running in a by-election was never part of his decision-making process when he chose to leave Umno. Advertisement 'I would like to make it clear that no discussion related to this matter ever took place, and it was not part of my consideration in making that decision. 'I strongly disagree with triggering by-elections without urgent necessity, as they consume both time and public funds,' he said. Addressing his resignation from Umno, Tengku Zafrul reiterated that it was a personal decision, made without external pressure. 'I acknowledge it was not an easy decision, but I carefully considered all views and opinions before arriving at it. Advertisement 'In a democratic society, every individual has the right to make personal choices. I deeply appreciate the feedback and reception to my decision,' he said. Tengku Zafrul also expressed his gratitude to Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the Umno Supreme Council, and especially the grassroots members in the Kota Raja division for their support during his time with the party. As for his Cabinet position, Tengku Zafrul said he would leave the matter entirely to the discretion of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. 'I am always ready to serve the country in any capacity. I left the corporate world with the intention to contribute, and as long as my service is needed, I will continue to give without necessarily holding any position,' he said. Tengku Zafrul also confirmed that he will continue serving as a Senator until the end of his term this December. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia


The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
Sales tax rate revision, service tax scope expansion to be effective July 1, 2025
A woman walks past an Al-Ikhsan store displaying a 0% GST and SST sign in Petaling Jaya. – NORAFIFI EHSAN/The Star PUTRAJAYA: The government will implement a revision of the Sales Tax rates and an expansion of the Service Tax's scope effective from July 1, 2025, in order to strengthen the country's fiscal position by increasing revenue and broadening the tax base. Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said these measures are aimed at improving the quality of the social safety net without burdening the majority of Malaysians. "The government is committed to continuing the reforms under the MADANI Economy framework. To ensure that the majority of people are not affected by the Sales and Service Tax (SST) revision, the MADANI government is taking a targeted approach to ensure that basic goods and services are not taxed. "In addition, various facilities are also being provided to mitigate the impact on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs),' he said in a statement today. Amir Hamzah said that complementing the MADANI Government's efforts to stimulate the economy and strengthen the social safety net, the additional revenue from the SST enhancements will go towards further public service improvements. - Bernama

The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
MCMC: Only eight data types required from telcos in Mobile Phone Data collection initiative
The data will be collected and stored on premise in MCMC for three years. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star CYBERJAYA: Mobile network operators are only required to provide eight types of data in the Mobile Phone Data (MPD) collection initiative, according to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). "No personally identifiable information such as IC number, name or phone number are collected," said MCMC deputy managing director Datuk Zurkarnain Mohd Yasin during a media briefing today (June 9). He explained that the data collected include MSISDN (mobile station international subscriber directory number), which MCMC also termed as "anonymised subscribers' identifier"; unique ID; and the longitude as well as longitude data of telco towers. Also collected are data on the date and time of each transaction; data type (call detail records or Internet protocol detail records); type of network (2G, 4G or 5G) and mobile country code (country identifier to distinguish between local or international subscriptions). The data will be collected and stored on premise in MCMC for three years, he added. Zurkarnain also explained that the MPD is currently in pilot phase and is expected to continue until 2026: "We have started in Cyberjaya and Melaka. Then the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) will decide how it goes after that." He added that anonymised MPD is not classified as a form of personal data under the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA) because "it cannot be used to identify or trace individuals either directly or indirectly"; hence anonymised MPD falls outside the scope of PDPA. "We have no intentions to get information on individual whereabouts. MPD is considered as a new form of gathering statistical data. Previously, we had to rely on surveys or census," he said. On why it's crucial, Zurkarnain said it's part of the digital transformation agenda to rely on big data and analytics for a more targeted approach in policy making. The initiative is focusing on gathering official statistics in two key areas namely ICT and tourism. Last week, users raised concerns over data privacy and security after reports about the MPD collection initiative emerged. Commission member Derek Fernandez said claims about user personal data being collected are false. "The circular sent to the mobile network operators showed that we have requested for the data to be anonymised. We do not want any personal data," he said, adding no third-party contractor has been appointed for the initiaitve. Zurkarnain confirmed that a fine on mobile network operators for non-compliance is needed as part of a requirement to support the initiative: "Everybody has to play a role in national development. We can talk about wanting to implement digital transformation using big data but what if there is no data and the data owner does not want to cooperate, then where do we move from there?" He added that all mobile network operators have agreed to comply. DOSM will process and analyse the data for publication. When asked if users can opt out of the initiative, Zurkarnain said: "It is a Cabinet decision, what we are doing is for national development. This is part of a regulatory requirement that we have asked the operators to comply." Fernandez added that it is stipulated in the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for MCMC to gather relevant data to improve infrastructure: "We do it within the benchmarks of international standards and practices."