SEREMBAN: Some 400 individuals and companies who bought 713ha of land in an area earmarked for modern pig farming (PFA) in Port Dickson almost 30 years ago will soon get closure, as the state government has agreed to step in and help them find a solution to their predicament.

       State investment, industrialisation, entrepreneurship, education and human capital committee chairman Datuk Dr Mohamad Rafie Ab Malek said the owners have been left in a lurch since, as the PFA project never took off.

       "The PFA was approved by the Federal Government in 1992 for modern pig farming and it even spent close to RM78mil for some infrastructure work.

       "However, the project never took off following the Nipah virus outbreak in the area in late 1998 and early 1999, which claimed more than 100 lives," he told reporters.

       Prior to the outbreak, pig farming activities in the area were the largest in Southeast Asia.

       Mohamad Rafie said the PFA was divided into two zones known as Kg Baru Tanah Merah Site A (312.8ha) and Bukit Pelandok (400.5ha).

       In 2006, the then state government, after receiving recommendations from the Veterinary Services Department, decided not to allow modern pig farming in Kg Baru Tanah Merah Site A, as it was too close to residential areas and did not have a sufficient buffer zone.

       The PFA was only allowed to be built in Bukit Pelandok as the area, among others, would have a waste treatment plant and abattoir.

       "Since the area has been left abandoned for years, we want to meet the buyers and ask how we can help them and what they really wish to do with their properties.

       "For example, if those who bought land in Bukit Pelandok want to continue with modern pig farming, then they must ensure the activity is carried out in an enclosed area and there was zero discharge or pollution," he said, adding that he planned to meet the landowners at a town hall session in Bukit Pelandok on Nov 20.

       Chuah assemblyman Datuk Michael Yek, who also sits in a state steering committee on the PFA, expressed hope the landowners will turn out in full force for the town hall session and share their views on the matter so that the state government could help them with their predicament.

       "Since this is a private initiative, we also want to know if the landowners are prepared to pay for the cost or venture into something else," he said.

       In 2017, former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan had said the state government had agreed to a request from some 200 former pig farmers who had invested in the PFA to have the status of the land changed.

       He said his administration was also prepared to impose lower charges to convert the land from agriculture-for-pig farming to housing, commercial or industrial.