Bekasi asked to close pig farms

Bekasi asked to close pig farms

BEKASI: The Bekasi administration has been asked to close all
pig-breeding farms in its territory because local residents have
objected to their existence.

"The government should do this to avoid violent protests from
the locals who have been demanding that pig farms should not be
allowed in residential areas," Abid Marzuki, who claimed to be an
environmentalist told Antara on Monday.

He noted that the Bekasi administration should be able to
differentiate between a business that is compliant with Islamic
law (syariah) and that which is not.

"This is particularly important because most of Bekasi
residents are Muslims and the Muslim holy month of Ramadhan is
approaching," he said.

The pig-breeding farms, which also function as slaughter
houses, are located in the subdistricts of Kedungringin, Tambun,
Jatimulya and Muara Gembong. Collectively they sell and slaughter
over 2,000 pigs every day.

Local residents have protested about the farms, saying that
the stench they emit is foul and that they have tarnished the
image of the Muslims residing in the area. --JP