Noisy and dirty swiftlet farms

Tuesday May 24, 2011

Picture -Too near for comfort: Disgruntled residents showing Chang (fourth from right) the shophouses that have been converted into swiftlet farms.

By ONG HAN SEAN
hansean@thestar.com.my

KUANTAN: Residents living behind a row of shophouses used as swiftlet farms near Jalan Dato Wong Ah Jang here can no longer tolerate the excessive noise and unhygienic conditions.

Businessman Lee Choo Goo, 53, said he could not stand the noise emitted from speakers installed at the shophouses to attract swiftlets.

“I cannot even sleep at night as it is too loud. After I confronted the owner, he turned down the volume but it is still on 24 hours,” he said.

Lee said there was only one such farm four years ago but seven more had sprouted recently.

Housewife Lau Hea Ling, 42, said although her family could put up with the noise, she claimed to have recently caught workers from the farm dumping bird faeces onto the road behind her home.

“They have gone too far. If we don't do something now, they will continue dumping into our backyard,” she said.

The residents met Teruntum assemblyman Chang Hong Seong to voice their grouses here yesterday.

Chang said the operators needed to follow existing guidelines set by the state government and cooperate with the residents, adding that any waste from the farms should be disposed of properly.

He also said the farms were only allowed to turn on their speakers from 7am to 7pm and that the volume must be less than 45 decibels.

Chang said the state government met the operators recently and reached an agreement with them that new swiftlet farms were not to be set up in residential areas.

“We will take action immediately if they are found to violate the guidelines,” he said.

Swiftlet farm and used car parts irk Taman Cahaya residents

Thursday May 19, 2011
By THO XIN YI
thoxinyi@thestar.com.my
Photo by ROHAIZAT MD DARUS

Cause of concern: A factory in Taman Cahaya, Kajang that has been turned into a swiftlet farm.
“To top it all, the used parts are not only dirty and smelly but greasy as well. They could easily trigger a fire through carelessness.

RESIDENTS living behind a swiftlet farm and a row of shops and houses used to store mountains of second-hand car parts in Taman Cahaya in Kajang, are concerned about fire safety and hygiene problems.

However, the operator dismissed their claims and worries as baseless.

Two residents, who opted for anonymity, said the used car parts business could give rise to dengue. It could put the safety of residents there in jeopardy since there is only one drain separating their houses and the said premises.



“I have contacted the Health Department and they conducted checks at the site and found it to be a breeding ground for mosquitoes,” one of them said.

She said she had to instal netting to protect family members from mosquitoes.

“The department responded by saying that only the local council has the authority to ask the premises owner to move out. However, when we contacted the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj), they referred us back to the department,” she said.

The residents said the business, which occupied several lots, belonged to the same owner. A few vacant houses were also used to store the used car parts.

To add to their woes, a factory located along the same road was transformed into a swiftlet farm several months ago.

“We became suspicious when we saw them covering up the windows with bricks, leaving only a few small holes.

“There are many swiftlets in our area now. We are worried about the hygiene problems that might be caused by the swiftlets and sometimes I even find bird feathers in my house,” the resident said.

The residents wanted to know if the farm was allowed to operate in the residential area.

The resident also said she had raised these two matters to MPKj more than 10 times.

“It is unbelieveable that the council asked me to collect signatures from my neighbours to protest against the swiftlet farm.

“If the swiftlet farm is not supposed to be here in the first place, why do we need to collect the residents’ signatures before action is taken?” the resident said.

When StarMetro visited the premises on Monday, employees of the business said the premises has been there for about 30 years and no fire has occurred.

“We fog the premises once a week in the evening to kill the mosquitoes,” one of them said.

Another added that they poured oil in containers which collect water to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.

On the swiftlet farm, an employee said they were in the midst of applying for the licence.

“Our tweeter (speaker to broadcast the chirps of swiftlets to attract the birds) is only turned on at 7am and is automatically switched off at 8pm,” he said.

They insisted that the farm would not contribute to hygiene problems as the birds only returned to the farm at night.

“The residents living directly opposite us have no qualms about our activities,” he said.

When contacted, Kajang assemblyman Lee Kim Sin confirmed receiving the complaint on the storage of the car spare parts.

“The business owner has expanded his business to a few houses but he should not use the lots as a garage to keep the parts.

“We are taking action through the MPKj and asking them to move to the industrial area,” he said.

However, the car workshop fronting the main road is still allowed to operate.

Lee said he was not aware about the swiftlet farm but would look into the problem.

“According to the guidelines issued by the federal government, swiftlet farms should not exist in residential area,” he said

ASNI: Penang govt misled people about Unesco’s swiftlet ban

Monday May 16, 2011
By BERNARD SEE
bernardsee@thestar.com.my


THE state government has misled the Penang people by claiming that Unesco called for a ban on swiftlet farming in the George Town world heritage site.

Association for Swiftlet Nests Industry (ASNI) president Carole Loh (pic) said she received a letter from Unesco dated May 4 which stated that they (Unesco) were merely asking the state government to asses the impact of the birdhouses on the heritage enclave.

“Why did the Penang government tell the people of Penang that Unesco does not allow birdhouses in George Town and that the letter was a warning? Unesco has now confirmed that this is not true.

“The state government is now saying something else and that the birdhouses are having a negative impact on the inner city’s outstanding universal value (OUV) which gave rise to the listing,” she said when contacted yesterday.

Loh said ASNI had a three-hour meeting with a Unesco representative in Jakarta on April 15 and “we have been recommended to promote a dialogue to reach a mutually beneficial conclusion that will satisfy all stakeholders”.

On a claim by state Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow that people were moving out of George Town because of the birdhouses, she said the real reason was because of the sharp increase in rent after the repeal of the Rent Control Act in 2000 and not swiftlet farming.

“He also said that swiftlet farming had caused the building facade and streetscape to change but he must remember that there are many birdhouses which have been beautifully renovated to preserve its heritage.

“We have offered many times to work with the state government to help renovate the buildings so that they are in line with heritage guidelines.

“Moreover, birdhouses are not considered Class 1 buildings, in which the facade and interior of the buildings have to be preserved, and we only need to ensure that the facade is maintained,” she added.

Loh said Chow also alleged that noise from recordings to attract the birds were disturbing the neighbours but this was not an issue as the playing of such recordings had already been banned.

Loh said under the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site Special Area Plan (SAP), existing trades and businesses which have been listed as non-permissible activities will not be asked to move out of the heritage zone as it will affect the livelihood of people in the area.

“What about the existing birdhouses in George Town and the livelihood of its owners? ASNI had offered to work together with the state government for a ‘win win’ solution but they are not interested.

“They do not care that the livelihood of our members would be severely affected.

“Why are the birdhouse owners treated differently? Why the double standards?” she asked.

Loh said the phenomenon of swiftlets living within a heritage enclave is unique to George Town and Malacca and the birdhouses should be seen as ‘Living Heritage’, an aspect which contributed to its OUV.

By closing and eliminating all traces of the birdhouses, she added, the Penang government was tampering with the authenticity of the inner city’s heritage and rewriting its history.

State admits Unesco never asked for swiftlet ban in city

Tuesday May 10, 2011
The Star


GEORGE TOWN: Unesco never called for a ban on swiftlet farming in the George Town world heritage site.

The international body also did not impose any regulations on the country after Penang and Malacca were jointly listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2008, Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said.

“However, swiftlet farming would have a negative impact on the inner city’s outstanding universal value (OUV) which gave rise to the listing — hence the state government’s decision to impose the ban.

“George Town’s OUV is that the city is a thriving port in the Straits of Malacca with multi-cultural heritage and unique shophouse architecture.

“Although Unesco never asked for a ban on swiftlet farming, the activity jeopardises the listing because of its negative impact on the OUV,” he said in his winding up speech at the state assembly.

Chow said swiftlet farming had caused the building facade and streetscape to change, residents to move out leaving the buildings empty and was a disturbance to the nearby residents.

“These affect the OUV which is why the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site Special Area Plan does not allow swiftlet farming in the heritage zone.”

Interjecting, Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya (BN-Teluk Bahang) said instead of banning the activity, the state government should formulate creative guidelines to prevent the OUV from being compromised.

“Unesco didn’t ask for a ban so why is there a need for us to do so?

“The birds may not follow if you get the swiftlet home operators to move to another zone. Bird nest farming is a lucrative business so this ban will cause us to lose a lot of money.

“I am sure we can come up with enforceable guidelines so that the swiftlet operators need not move out.

“We can even encourage businesses related to swiftlet farming such as the sale of bird nest products and drinks in the inner city,” he said.

Defending the ban, Chow said the existing 100-odd swiftlet farms in the heritage enclave would otherwise mushroom to 1,000.

The Opposition and backbenchers have called on the state government to identify zones for bird nest farming in the state

State admits Unesco never asked for swiftlet ban in city

Tuesday May 10, 2011
The Star


GEORGE TOWN: Unesco never called for a ban on swiftlet farming in the George Town world heritage site.

The international body also did not impose any regulations on the country after Penang and Malacca were jointly listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2008, Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said.

“However, swiftlet farming would have a negative impact on the inner city’s outstanding universal value (OUV) which gave rise to the listing — hence the state government’s decision to impose the ban.

“George Town’s OUV is that the city is a thriving port in the Straits of Malacca with multi-cultural heritage and unique shophouse architecture.

“Although Unesco never asked for a ban on swiftlet farming, the activity jeopardises the listing because of its negative impact on the OUV,” he said in his winding up speech at the state assembly.

Chow said swiftlet farming had caused the building facade and streetscape to change, residents to move out leaving the buildings empty and was a disturbance to the nearby residents.

“These affect the OUV which is why the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site Special Area Plan does not allow swiftlet farming in the heritage zone.”

Interjecting, Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya (BN-Teluk Bahang) said instead of banning the activity, the state government should formulate creative guidelines to prevent the OUV from being compromised.

“Unesco didn’t ask for a ban so why is there a need for us to do so?

“The birds may not follow if you get the swiftlet home operators to move to another zone. Bird nest farming is a lucrative business so this ban will cause us to lose a lot of money.

“I am sure we can come up with enforceable guidelines so that the swiftlet operators need not move out.

“We can even encourage businesses related to swiftlet farming such as the sale of bird nest products and drinks in the inner city,” he said.

Defending the ban, Chow said the existing 100-odd swiftlet farms in the heritage enclave would otherwise mushroom to 1,000.

The Opposition and backbenchers have called on the state government to identify zones for bird nest farming in the state

Pahang guide on swiftlet industry soon

Thursday April 28, 2011
The Star


KUANTAN: Pahang will introduce its guidelines on the sustainable development of the swiftlet industry by the middle of the year.

State Local Government, Environment and Health Committee chairman Datuk Hoh Khai Mun said the guidelines were a combination of its rules launched in 2007 and those of the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry.

He said there was a need to make adjustments to the ministry’s guidelines due to the rapid growth of the industry in the state.

“We are getting input from industry experts and the Veterinary Services Department in drafting the guidelines,” he said on Tuesday.

Hoh said a meeting was held in February to sort out technical issues, such as enforcement work and legal action that could be taken by local authorities.

“We will call for a meeting next month to finalise the details and if things proceed as planned, the guidelines will be introduced by the middle of the year,” Hoh said.

He said although the state government realised the potential in the swiftlet industry, public health must remain top priority.

Perak guide on swiftlet industry soon

Thursday April 28, 2011
The Star


IPOH: Perak will implement its standardised guidelines for the swiftlet nest industry soon.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said that at present, the state’s 15 local district councils had their own set of rules for the industry.

“While some councils follow the guidelines given by the Housing and Local Government Ministry such as breeders must form associations before they are given licences, others allow the breeders to register with the Veterinary Services Department,” he said after chairing the weekly state executive council meeting here.

Dr Zambry said the guidelines which were discussed during the meeting were being fine-tuned.

“Among the areas that need to be tightened are the sound pollution resulting from the swiftlets inside the buildings and the proposed locations to house the nests,” he said yesterday