Pendang folk unhappy with abattoir plans

(The Star) ALOR SETAR: The Pendang district office has rejected the Kedah Pig Traders and Butchers Association’s application to build a slaughterhouse in Kampung Cina here following protests from nearby villagers.

District officer Abdul Shukor Abdul Ghani said villagers, including those from the Siamese community, had complained about the move.

He also said the land owner had refused to allow the association to build the slaughterhouse there.

“I have written to Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak’s office informing him of the decision.

“However, the final decision lies with the Mentri Besar and if he still wants the slaughterhouse to be built in Pendang, we will help with the process,” he told a press conference yesterday.

Abdul Shukor said this after receiving a memorandum from Pendang 4B Youth Movement, representing the villagers who are against the planned move.

It was reported that the association had found a privately-owned land in Pendang as a new location for the project. This is to replace the illegal slaughterhouse at Kampung Berjaya, Jalan Putra, which was demolished recently.

The demolition had led to the Kedah DAP pulling out from the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, among other issues.

Azizan had reportedly ordered the Pendang district office to assist the association in its plan to build a slaughterhouse in the district.

Pendang 4B Youth Movement chairman Nor Azam Ismail said that the group protested because the new site was located close to Malay residential and agricultural areas.

He said that the proposed site was also near the irrigation system used by farmers and the villagers.