Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop says the state government has been tolerating the issue since 2003

The farmers have been told to remove more than 97,000 pigs from their farms by next Friday, but they claim to be having difficulties meeting the deadline.

"Common complaints include the difficulty for veterinarians from other states to obtain a permit to access the farms, the closure of the slaughter house in Ayer Keroh on Saturdays and the lack of demand for pork," said Masjid Tanah Member of Parliament Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop, who is heading a special committee set up to monitor the progress of the pig elimination exercise.

The committee is tasked with ensuring that the number of pigs on the farms are reduced to 48,000 and farms in Bukit Beruang and Man Lok are shut down.

Abu Seman said the committee would find ways to solve the difficulties faced by the farmers.

Pig farmers have been given two days from yesterday to submit their elimination schedules.