Respect the rights of minorities to rear pigs, PBK president tells critics

KUCHING, Feb 14 2026:Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan has urged Malaysians to respect the rights of minorities to rear pigs in the country.

Voon Lee Shan: The debate on pig farming has stirred strong opinions, particularly regarding hygiene and environmental concerns.  

He said criticisms against the minorities  of their practices is acceptable, but discrimination or singling out communities is not.  

“Let us uphold a Malaysia that balances development, environmental responsibility, and the constitutional rights of all citizens.

“We call on policymakers at all levels to engage stakeholders constructively, ensure compliance with environmental standards, and formulate regulations that protect both public health and the livelihood rights of lawful farmers,” he said in a statement in response to an on-going uproar over pig farming in Malaya.

Voon pointed  out that the debate on pig farming has stirred strong opinions, particularly regarding hygiene and environmental concerns.

“While these are valid topics for discussion, it is vital that public discourse remains fair, grounded in facts, and compliant with the law,” he said, stressing that under Article 8 of the Federal Constitution, all citizens are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection of the law.

“This explicitly prohibits discrimination based on religion, race, descent, or place of birth,” Voon said, adding that pig farming, which is a lawful economic activity, cannot be unfairly targeted simply because it is associated with certain communities.

“Furthermore, Article 5 guarantees the right to life and liberty, which the courts have interpreted to include the right to livelihood,” he said, noting that for many families and small businesses, pig farming is not just a trade but a means of survival and a legitimate source of income.

He said it also contributes to Malaysia’s broader economy, supporting jobs and local industries.

According to data from the Federation of Livestock Farmers’ Associations of Malaysia, Voon said the pig industry is a significant component of the livestock sector with an estimated output value of around RM4 billion, a figure that illustrates its economic footprint and role in national food production and commerce.

In addition, he said regional development plans, such as those underway in Sarawak, project that the swine industry could generate an additional RM1.5 billion in annual revenue by 2030 through expanded modern farming operations.

He noted that Minister Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dr Stephen Rundi Utom was reported as saying that Sarawak “expects to earn at least RM1.5 billion additional annual revenue from the swine industry by 2030

He said these figures underscore the importance of pig farming not only as a source of livelihood for individual farmers but also as a contributor to broader economic activity, including domestic supply chains and export potential.

(UPDATED) Sarawak, Sabah differ on issue of revenue sharing with the federal government. says former Sabah CM

KOTA KINABAKU, Feb 14 2026: Former Sabah Chief Minister Salleh Said Keruak reasoned that a proposal by Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg to calculate special grants based on a percentage of state revenue reflects a flexible and performance-based approach.

Caption: Salleh Said Keruak says that in Sabah's case, it is rights agreed upon Malaysia was formed 

He said for Sarawak, it can be discussed and negotiated as a policy formula between the state and the federal government.

“However, for Sabah, the issue of revenue sharing is not about introducing a new formula,” he said in his Facebook post.

He added it is already clearly stated in the Federal Constitution linked to the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“This is not about asking for extra allocations or special treatment. It is about rights agreed upon when Malaysia was formed,” Salleh said.

 He said Sabah’s financial rights must be implemented according to the Constitution and the original agreement, not subject to changing political considerations.

 “If there are different interpretations or implementation issues, clear and transparent explanations should be given to the people of Sabah.

“Ultimately, it is up to Sabahans to assess and decide whether to accept those explanations,” he said.

He said Kota Kinanbalu High Court’s decisions on this matter have already been made and should be respected and fully implemented.

On Oct 17 last year, the court ruled the federal government had acted unlawfully by failing to fulfil Sabah’s right to 40 per cent of federal revenue derived from the state for nearly 50 years.

Judge Celestina Stuel Galid declared that the special grant arrangements between the federal and state governments were “unlawful, ultra vires, and irrational,” adding that they violated the federal constitution.

The court also ordered that an agreement be reached on Sabah’s 40 per cent share of federal revenue for each financial year from 1974 to 2021, with this process to be completed within 180 days.

Abang Johari had said yesterday that he had proposed that the federal government to consider basing financial allocations to Sarawak on the state’s actual revenue contributions.

He told reporters that he and Prime Minister  Anwar Ibrahim had discussed the proposal as part of efforts to review and improve the formula for special grants under the Federal Constitution.

He said the allocations returned to Sarawak should reflect the revenue the state contributes, including taxes, earnings from natural resources, and other economic activities.