Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak wins at GovMedia Awards 2025
The organisation earned recognition for its Pasir Puteh Pig Farming Area, a model of modern and sustainable agriculture in Sarawak.
Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak won the Malaysia Sustainability Initiative of the Year - Agriculture category at the GovMedia Awards 2025—a testament to its exemplary initiatives in transforming its agricultural landscape with its Pasir Puteh Pig Farming Area (PFA).
PFA, located in Simunjan, Sarawak, spans 804 hectares and is located 104 kilometres from Kuching and just 4 kilometres off the main Serian-Sri Aman Road. The development of this facility aligns with the National Agriculture Policy's vision to modernise the livestock industry. Since it was established, it has implemented centralised systems for waste treatment and disease control, an effort to enhance efficiency and sustainability. It also prevents outbreaks and ensures animal health with its biosecurity measures, adopting practices that safeguard both consumer health and environmental quality.
Since 2017, Pig Farming Area (PFA) Simunjan has exported over 675,000 porkers worth RM742.5m to Singapore. Export of porkers to Singapore is still ongoing and the balance is for sale at their (47) Borneo Pork Outlets throughout Sarawak. The Standing Pig Population (SPP) in the PFA is currently estimated at 135,000 heads.
PFA Simunjan is African Swine Fever Disease Free-Compartmentalization endorsed by World Organization of Animal Health (WAOH) and is exporting, on average, 2,500 live pigs weekly to Singapore. In 2024, about 120,000 live pigs were exported from the Pig Farming Area (PFA) Simunjan and generated RM197.6m in revenue.
The PFA uses a closed-house system with controlled ventilation, temperature, brightness, and humidity, with its effluent being treated and recycled within the farm. It has a buffer zone that is maintained to separate the farm from residential areas. Furthermore, the facility complies with Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP), which ensure food safety, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability.
As it strives for more into the future, the Pasir Puteh PFA is eyeing to reach a full capacity of 250,000 SPP by 2030. This expansion would include the development of additional modern pig farms in Ensengei, Serian, and Selangau, Sibu, which would have combined capacities projected to total 500,000 SPP. These are expected to contribute RM1.5b in annual revenue, making Sarawak as a significant regional exporter of pork products.
As Sarawak aims to become a net food exporter by 2030, these initiatives are part of its strategy toward its goal, given that the swine industry is identified as a pivotal sector in this transformation. As Sarawak is FMD free without vaccination, the Sarawak Government will continue to encourage and facilitate the participation of the private sector to boost the development of the swine industry to realise the aspiration of becoming a net exporter of food by 2030.
GovMedia Awards gives recognition to the trends and best practices that transform the public sector in the Asia Pacific. The awards programme promotes excellence and provides a platform for exemplary government initiatives.
The Gov Media Awards is presented by Gov Media Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be recognised for your organisation's government projects and initiatives, please contact Jane Patiag at [email protected].
