An illegal cattle pen causing odour and river pollution in Batu Uban has been resolved after talks between residents, the owner, and local authorities.
GEORGE TOWN: An illegal cattle pen causing odour and river pollution in Changkat Bukit Gambir has been resolved through negotiations.
Batu Uban assemblyman A. Kumaresan said talks were held at his office today with all parties involved.
This followed complaints from residents to the Penang Island City Council (MBPP).
MBPP mayor Datuk A. Rajendran and council members visited the site at 10 am.
They found the pen, housing over 10 cows, had no approval.
“We sought a win-win solution, considering both the farmer’s income and residents’ well-being,” Kumaresan said.
The owner initially kept just two cows before building a larger pen without approval.
This caused odour pollution and potential river contamination, especially during rain.
Under the agreement, the farmer has until Jan 31 to relocate the cattle pen to a designated area.
This is to address residents’ immediate complaints.
The state plans to move all cattle and goat farmers to a designated Balik Pulau site by March 2026.
The new site will be away from residential areas.
Noor Salehin Othman, chairman of Surau Al-Nur Bukit Gambir, said residents endured strong cattle odours.
The smell was particularly bad in the mornings and evenings.
“The cattle waste is disposed of twice daily, and the smell is strong, especially during rain,” he said.
Runoff from the pen flows into a small river and then into a larger one.
Some homes were even flooded with waste-contaminated water.
The area’s 300-plus homes have had complaints lodged with MBPP for over three months.
Complaints were also made to the Department of Environment and the Batu Uban assemblyman.
