Chua Soi Lek irresponsible for recklessly risking the entire RM 1.5 billion pork industry as a scapegoat for the corruption and enforcement failure of the Agriculture Ministry to prevent the abuse of banned beta agonist by pig rearers

Press Statement

by Lim Guan Eng

(Petaling Jaya, Thursday): DAP unreservedly condemns Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek’s irresponsible attitude of recklessly risking the entire RM 1.5 billion pork industry in Malaysia by using the industry as a scapegoat for the corruption and enforcement failure of the Agriculture & Agro-Based Industries Ministry to prevent the abuse of banned beta agonist by pig rearers. Chua had avoided focusing on the real culprits by concentrating on the minor ones, when he should be targeting the Agriculture Ministry for failing to uphold its duty to check and control the widespread misuse of beta agonist.

Pigs given beta-agonist grow faster and can be slaughtered 20 days earlier than the usual 26 weeks and produce 4 kg more of leaner meat, making it more marketable. However, consumers who eat such tainted pork face health risks such as headaches, dizziness, palpitations and breathing difficulties, which is possibly fatal for those suffering from asthma and heart disease.

On 18.12.2006, Chua had reminded the Chinese in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Melaka to consume less pork after 30 pig farms in these states were quarantined for using the banned substances. He even said that pork sellers in possession of such tainted meat are liable to a fine of up to RM 100,000 or 10 years imprisonment or both. This is unfair to both pig breeders and pork sellers for the following reasons.

One, Federation of Livestock Farmers Associations Malaysia had protested Chua was unfair and self-contradictory as the 30 pig farms quarantined make up only 7% of pig farmers, proving that the remaining 93% were safe. It is not fair to punish all pig farmers, including innocent ones, by breaking their rice bowls in calling consumers not to eat pork for the wrongful actions of a few. Malacca Livestock Breeders Association Chin Nam Yee even called on Chua to apologise for his “unacceptable, damaging and irresponsible” remarks in blaming pig farmers when Chua’s Ministry failed to stop the use of beta agonist.

Secondly, Malaysian Pork Sellers Association yesterday threatened 2-3 weeks boycott for Chua’s unfair and unjust attitude of penalizing pork sellers for selling tainted meat. They asked why penalize pork sellers so harshly with fines of RM 100,000 and 10 years jail when pig farmers responsible for using beta agonist are only punished with a 2-week quarantine. It is illogical and irrational to punish pork sellers so harshly when they only buy meat from pig farmers and did not use beta agonist?

Third, Chua does not have the courage to go to the root of the problem of failed enforcement of the law by the Agriculture Ministry, whether through neglect in carrying out their duties, abuse of power or corruption that allowed pigs using such drugs to be slaughtered and tainted pork to be sold.

Even though Dr Chua tried to absolve the Agriculture Ministry from responsibility by saying that the most effective way to stop pig farmers from using beta-agonist is not by enforcement but by boycotting pork using beta agonist, Dr Chua is wrong. By putting the onus on the victim instead of the wrongdoer, Dr Chua is behaving like an irresponsible politician instead of caring doctor first.

Such uncaring attitude whether his remarks break the annual RM 1.5 billion pig industry’s rice bowl is shown when Chua “thanked” pork sellers for the boycott. How can Chua succeed in protect the interest and health of six million Chinese consumers in the country if he dares not criticize such failure of enforcement by the Veterinary Department and the Agriculture Ministry?

DAP demands that Chua stop endangering the RM 1.5 billion pig industry and health of the consumers by refusing to confront the Agriculture Ministry for its failure. Chua should apologise and retract his remarks not to eat less pork but focus on severely punish those who use beta agonist instead of the entire pig industry. By punishing even those who do not use beta agonist, isn’t Chua indirectly encouraging them to use beta agonist since they will be similarly punished whether they comply with the law or not?