While the farmers are not pleased with certain wordings in the document, butchers and pork sellers are downright unhappy that they are also dragged into the matter although they have no business feeding pigs.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek had asked them to sign the loyalty pledge by the end of last month.

Federation of Livestock Farmers Associations of Malaysia pig unit chairman Tung Hong Chai could not say which words in the document the farmers were unhappy with.

However, he said all problems could be solved after meeting with the Veterinary Services Department (VSD) and Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Datuk Mah Siew Keong soon.

Malaysian Pork Sellers Association chairman Goh Chui Lai said the 3,000 association members were not told earlier about signing the loyalty pledge and had refused to do so.

“We do not have anything to do with the livestock although most of our members take the pigs from the farms to the licensed abattoirs and also sell the meat to consumers later,” he said.

Source: TheStar Online