Malaysia opposition split in pig abattoir dispute

The conflict between a conservative Islamic party and an ethnic Chinese-dominated party underscores ideological differences that could undermine the three-party People's Alliance. The alliance is the only serious challenger to the National Front coalition that has governed this country since 1957.

The alliance won control of five of Malaysia's 13 states in general elections last year. The next general elections are due by 2013.

The tensions became public Wednesday in northern Kedah state after state authorities demolished an abattoir that was operating without a license. Pig breeding is a sensitive subject in Malaysia, where nearly two-thirds of the population are Malay Muslims. Most in the Muslim world consider pigs unclean animals and do not eat pork because of religious restrictions.

Most pig farms are run by ethnic Chinese, Malaysia's biggest minority group.

The ethnic Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party's chairman in Kedah, Thomas Su, said the party pulled its sole state lawmaker from the opposition alliance because the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, the leading political force in Kedah, has discriminated against non-Muslims.

"There is no respect at all," Su told The Associated Press. He said there had been other instances of discrimination involving housing benefits for ethnic Malay Muslims and issues related to Hindu and Buddhist temples.

The party's pullout does not affect the opposition's control of Kedah, where the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party and multiracial People's Justice Party, the other member of the alliance, have a comfortable majority in the state legislature.

Kedah's chief minister, Azizan Abdul Razak of the Islamic Party, defended the demolition, saying the slaughterhouse had long been warned about operating without a license.

"This is not a racial issue ... I try to do my best" to accommodate all races, he said. "I hope for reconciliation."

Lim Kit Siang, the Democratic Action Party's parliamentary leader, said the party's top national leadership has not decided whether to approve the officials' pullout. He said he planned to meet with Kedah officials from both sides this weekend, adding that he was hopeful the opposition would "be able to resolve" the dispute.

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