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

CM slammed over swiftlet ban

Thursday April 14, 2011
The Star
By VANES DEVINDRAN
vanes@thestar.com.my


KUCHING: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has been criticised for not handling the swiftlet farming issue in Penang well.

Deputy Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Chua Tee Yong said Lim instead chose to push the blame to the Federal Govern-ment.

“What I need to stress is Guan Eng is a representative in the National Council for Local Government and he has the right to be heard and voice concerns to defend the people of Penang if he feels the decision made is incorrect.

“As such, I hope he does not continue to mislead the people or push the blame to the Federal Government,” he said here yesterday.

Chua also requested to see the minutes of the council's meeting on how the decision to ban swiftlet farming at heritage sites in Penang and Malacca was made.

He wanted to find out if Lim had agreed with the measures to be taken.

“I want to know if he con- curred with the measures taken by the council.

“This is because I never knew the Chief Minister of Penang to be an obedient person (leaving) the council to discuss and he just agreeing (to it),” he said.

Chua said what had been agreed in the council was a collective decision.

Based on this, Chua added that it was untrue for Lim to solely say it was a directive from the Federal Government.

In addition, Chua wanted to know what steps the Penang Government had taken to engage with the swiftlet operators.

CM tells swiftlet farmers to raise issue with DPM

Wednesday April 13, 2011
The Star


GEORGE TOWN: The National Council for Local Government is behind the ban on swiftlet farming in heritage areas and not the state government, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

He accused critics of “having ulterior motives” and “politicising the matter” for the Sarawak election

“If they have the courage to protest sincerely and are not playing political games, they should protest to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and not direct these (protests) to the state government,” he said.

Lim claimed that swiftlet farm- ing had become a hot issue as bird’s nest collection was popular in Sarawak.

“Bird house operations are big in Sarawak and we (Pakatan Rakyat) are getting attacked on this issue,” he said.

In early September last year, Muhyiddin had announced that swiftlet farming would be prohibited in the Penang and Malacca heritage enclaves, with a three- year grace period given to existing operators.

Meanwhile, Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng has renewed a challenge to the state government for an open debate over bird nests farming in the George Town heritage enclave.

Tan who quit PKR last year and is now a Kita member, said he issued a similar challenged to Local Government and Traffic Management committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow, state Agriculture, Rural Development and Flood Mitigation committee chairman Law Choo Kiang and state Domestic Trade, Consumer and Religious Affairs committee chairman Abdul Malik Abul Kassim two years ago but they had kept mum.

Last week, some 50 swiftlet farm operators held banners and shouted slogans at Komtar Walk here against the ongoing move to get them out of George Town.

When contacted, Chow and Abdul Malik declined to debate with Tan.

Abdul Malik urged Tan to “open his mouth” at the Dewan Rakyat.

Law could not be reached for comments.

Swiftlet farming can turn heritage zone into ‘ghost town’

Tuesday April 12, 2011
The Star
By KOW KWAN YEE
kowky@thestar.com.my


GEORGE TOWN: The Penang heritage zone would become a ‘ghost town’ if the bird nests farming operators are allowed to continue operating, said state Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow.

“Many residents have begun complaining about noise created in pre-war houses which were renovated to accommodate the swiftlets. Some may eventually move out from the area,” he said.

“The heritage site will not become liveable and if the residents move out, the status of World Heritage will be threatened,” he said after opening a forum on Local Government here.

Chow said heritage is not only about lifeless artefacts, monuments or antique pieces, but it also includes the living people who inherit the heritage and culture here.

“Swiftlet farmers should not expect the state (government) and the people to sacrifice, so that their narrow interests are protected,” he said.

The National Council for Local Government had decided on Sept 2 last year that new swiftlet nest farms would not be allowed at heritage sites in Penang and Malacca while existing ones would have to relocate within three years.

“We are not killing off their lucrative trade, but to allow them to continue the businesses in an appropriate area,” he said, adding that he would meet with some of the farmers today for discussion.

Association for Swiftlet Nests Industry pre-sident Carole Loh (pic) responded by asking Chow to check his facts first, as the Federal Government has previously declared that the operators are not allowed to play music recordings, as part of efforts to attract the birds.

“There is no noise. How can noise be an issue when it was banned in the first place.”

She also stressed that the bird farms were approved earlier than the listing of George Town as a Unesco heritage site.

Swiftlet nest ‘farmers’ let fly over action

Saturday April 9, 2011
The Star
By TAN SIN CHOW
sctan@thestar.com.my


GEORGE TOWN: Some 50 swiftlet farm operators held banners and shouted slogans at Komtar Walk here against the ongoing move to get them out of George Town.

One of the operators, Tan Siew Teng, in his 40s, maintained that they have not done anything wrong to warrant the crackdown.

He believed that the Unesco office could have been ‘ill-informed’ through certain poison-pen letters on the situation here.

He said the swiftlets fly into the heritage buildings on their own will, adding that this is only happening in South East Asian countries.

“By using the word ‘farming’, it gives the impression to the Westerners that we are conducting the trade on a large scale,” he said.

“But in fact, this is not farming. We merely attract the birds.”

“We just provide a place for them to roost and more importantly, we do not feed them,” he told reporters at the scene yesterday.

MPPP has divided swiftlet nest farms in the city into four categories and the enforcement unit has taken action against sites which have been illegally converted for the lucrative trade.

The National Council for Local Government had decided on Sept 2 last year that new swiftlet nest farms would not be allowed at heritage sites in Penang and Malacca while existing ones would have to clear out within three years.

State executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow had said the state would not wait until the grace period is over before taking action.

Another operator Khaw Chin Kok, 43, claimed that action had been taken against some operators even before their scheduled meeting with the state government on April 12.

Also present were Barisan Nasional coordinators Loh Poh Chye (Pengkalan Kota) and Loh Chye Teik (Komtar).

Loh said the swiftlets were already around when Penang obtained the Unesco status.

“I do not see why it is becoming an issue only now,” he said.

Chow, when contacted, stressed that the state has nothing personal against the operators.

“It is just that the inner city is not the right place to conduct this business,” he said.

MPSP no to swiftlet licence

Friday April 8, 2011
The Star


THERE are an estimated 2,000-odd illegal swiftlet nest farms in Seberang Prai, Penang.

Of the number, 1,155 operators have submitted applications for licences from the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) but none has been approved so far, said MPSP councillor Steven Sim Chee Keong.

“The licence applications to operate swiftlet nest farms in Seberang Prai have been temporarily frozen.

“We are still waiting for the state government to come up with specific guidelines on swiftlet nest farming in Penang,” he said during an operation to remove speakers from three illegal swiftlet nest farms in a shophouse block on Jalan Tembikai in Bukit Mertajam yesterday.

Sim said of the 1,155 farms which applied for licences, 1,051 were located in shophouses, 67 on agricultural land and 37 in residential houses.

“They must submit building plans together with their licence applications. The licence approval will depend on endorsements from the Fire and Rescue Department and the council’s technical departments as well as the suitability of the farms’ locations,” he said.

Fellow councillor Oon Neow Aun said the council had so far issued licences to three swiftlet nest farms.

He said such farms were only allowed to be built on agricultural land but not near padi fields and irrigation canals as the Drainage and Irrigation Department feared that bird droppings might pollute the waterway.

On the enforcement yesterday, Oon said the council had issued several notices to the three swiftlet nest farm operators since June last year to lower the volume of their speakers following public complaints but this was ignored.

He said the council permitted operators to set their music volume at below 40db (decibels) but the sound levels recorded at the farms were above 66db.

Oon said the enforcement against the operators were initiated under Section 82 (5) of the Local Government Act 1976 for causing nuisance.

Eleven council enforcement officers, two council special squad members, six auxiliary policemen, three council Building Department officers and five council Health Department officers took part in the hour-long operation.

Show us the Unesco letter, say swiftlet farmers

Friday April 1, 2011
The Star
By ANDREA FILMER
andrea@thestar.com.my


GEORGE TOWN: A group of swiftlet farm owners has demanded a Unesco letter allegedly warning George Town to buck up on its enforcement of bird's nest farming in the heritage enclave to be made public.

Pengkalan Kota Barisan Nasional coordinator Loke Poh Chye, who spoke on behalf of the group, said full disclosure of the letter would be in line with the state government's CAT (Competency, Accountability and Transparency) policy.

“The owners want to ascertain the exact reasons Unesco was troubled with bird's nest harvesting in the heritage zone.

“Without knowing what Unesco is concerned about, proper guidelines cannot be suggested to solve the problem between the owners and the state,” Loke said at a press conference that was attended by some 20 bird's nest farm owners.

On Feb 23, state exco Chow Kon Yeow said World Heritage Centre director Francesco Bandarin had sent a letter to Ali Abdul Ghani, Malaysia's permanent delegate to Unesco in Paris, outlining its concerns on the conversion of heritage buildings into swiftlet breeding premises.

It had been reported that the centre had been made aware of the matter following a series of reports it had received.

The National Council for Local Government had also announced on Sept 2 that new swiftlet nest farms would not be allowed in the George Town and Malacca heritage sites while existing ones would have to clear out in three years.

Swiftlet farm shutdown

Saturday March 12, 2011
The STar
By ANN TAN
anntan@thestar.com.my

Pic 1 Skylift entry: A female MPPP enforcement officer entering the second floor of the shophouses in Carnavon Street.


Pic 2 Unprocessed material: A council worker showing a bowl believed to contain birds' nest in a building in Carnarvon Street.

SPic 3 erious about crackdown: Penang Municipal Council enforcement personnel taking down a partition for swiflet breeding at the shophouse on Lorong Tok Aka.

THE authorities used a chain- saw to break into an illegal swiftlet nest farming site and a skylift to gain entry into another building suspected to be used for the same purpose.

A 60-member team, comprising Penang Municipal Council (MPPP), police and Penang Veterinary Department personnel, took part in the enforcement exercise yesterday to rid George Town of illegal swiftlet farming premises.

They first went to three adjoining double-storey shoph ouses on Carnarvon Street at about 10am but found the units unoccupied and ‘To Let’ notices pasted on the doors at the lower level.


MPPP personnel then used a skylift to get to the top floor and climbed into the building via a window there after removing its heavily tinted panes.

Shortly after, a worker came to open the door, saying that his boss told him to do so after being notified that there were many enforcement officers there.

Although the MPPP personnel found swiftlet droppings on the floor and a bowl believed to contain unprocessed birds nest, they could not find any nests or swiflets inside the building.


The man, who declined to be named, said his boss stopped the swiftlet nest business three years ago.

“He has renovated the units and is waiting for any interested party to rent the three shophouses,” he said.

His boss, known only as Yeoh, arrived minutes after the enforcement team left and was heard asking his employee why the enforcement personnel had to enter his premises like thieves.

When he saw a photographer taking photos of swiflet droppings inside the building, Yeoh lost his temper and pulled the photographer’s backpack before chasing the newsmen away.

The enforcement team later proceeded to a double-storey shophouse on Lorong Tok Aka where twittering sounds from speakers used to attract the swiftlets could be heard clearly.


They used a chainsaw to cut open the door lock after several calls went unanswered.

They left a RM250 compound notice on the door after seizing speakers from the unit and taking down partitions used for swiftlet nest farming.

MPPP had divided swiftlet nest farms in the city into four categories and the enforcement action yesterday was the start of the operations against 32 sites which had been illegally converted into such farms.

Penang Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said these farms had been issued with notices to stop operations last year.

“We have earlier acted against 11 new illegal swiftlet farming operators.

“The third category are 50 operators who applied for licences but did not get approval while 28 operators who came under the fourth category have received temporary licences,” he said.

The National Council for Local Government had decided on Sept 2 last year that new swiftlet nest farms would not be allowed at heritage sites in Penang and Malacca while existing ones would have to clear out in three years.

Chow said the state would not wait until the grace period ends before taking action.

Swift action on swiftlet breeding

Friday February 25, 2011

By MANJIT KAUR and WINNIE YEOH
north@thestar.com.my


PENANG has swung into action since Jan 1 to ensure operators of swiftlet breeding premises move out from the George Town heritage enclave despite the Federal Government’s three-year grace period.

State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) had taken steps to address the issue which resulted in 28 farms run by 27 operators being closed down.

He said due to the low-profile enforcement, the public might not be aware of the processes that had taken place.

Chow said the council had identified swiftlet farms run by 121 operators in 128 heritage buildings in the inner city

“We’re taking action gradually against the remaining 94 operators running the business in 101 premises,” he said, adding that the next enforcement would take place next month.

He added that the council could not simply destroy the bird nests as they had to follow the instructions of the Veterinary Services Department on the right timing to do so.

“There are certain seasons when these birds lay eggs in the nests, and we cannot just destroy them,” he added.

It was reported yesterday that the Malacca and George Town’s joint Unesco World Heritage Site status may be in jeopardy due to the conversion of heri- tage buildings into swiftlet breeding premises.

Unesco’s World Heritage Centre has expressed concern over the matter following a series of reports the organisation had received.

Centre director Francesco Bandarin said, in a letter dated Jan 14, the reports stated that there were 200 to 300 swiftlet farms in George Town.

Chow said the MPPP had issued notices to the operators to stop the business at the heritage enclave, and some had been charged under the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974.

He said enforcement or legal action could be taken against those who defied the ruling under the Town and Country Planning Act 1976,

“Under the law, we have the right to demolish the extended illegal structure, and to bring down the recording system played to attract these birds.

“We are also in the process of having joint meetings with the stakeholders, technical agencies and the non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

“We are also serious about the operators restoring the building to its original structure once they move out,” he added

Chow said George Town World Heritage Incorporated (WHI) general manager Maimunah Mohd Sharif had on Jan 25 responded to the National Heritage Department commissioner of heritage Prof Emeritus Datin Paduka Zuraina Majid on the action that had been taken by the state authorities.

The Federal Government had on Sept 2, last year approved a new guideline for the swiftlet breeding industry (1GP) where such activities were not allowed to be carried out at both the heritage enclaves.

Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) presi- dent Khoo Salma Nasution said there was a need to have a new inventory of the number of operators conducting these businesses both in the core and buffer zones.

She said PHT was willing to work with MPPP to map out all the swiftlet houses.

“I hope the whole operation will be done in consultation with all parties including the NGOs, the owners of the shophouses, and the operators.

“We also need to know what happens once the operators move out of the renovated buildings that require rehabilitation,” she added

Eye on swiftlet breeding premises

Friday January 21, 2011
The Star


LABIS: Swiftlet breeding premises must have a computer chip detailing their locations so that the authorities can identify them if the public lodges complaints about noise and health pollution.

Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Chua Tee Yong said the tracking system, which was imposed following the introduction of the National Swift­let Industry Guidelines approved by the Cabinet recently, would enable the ministry to track them via GPS (global positioning system).

“It will be difficult to locate the premises if the chip is not installed because many do not have details of their addresses, including road names.

“The ministry has received many complaints from the public.

“They are worried about the impact of these premises on their health.

“Such places can create environment and noise pollution, too,” he said after closing a swiftlet industry seminar yesterday.

Chua said swiftlet breeders in Negri Sembilan had started to install the chip and he hoped all industry members would follow suit in the next three years.

“Malaysia’s current export of bird’s nest is expected to reach RM5bil by 2020 and it is important that the industry be regulated to meet all the requirements to allow healthy growth,” he added.

Chua said swiftlet operators must also seek certification from the Veterinary Services Depart­ment before they could export their produce.

He added that China, one of the largest importers of bird’s nest from Malaysia, wanted regulations to be in place to ensure proper product quality control was maintained.

Chua said the guidelines also covered other aspects like the location of premises, processing of bird’s nest, importing and exporting procedures, and the creation of environment-friendly premises.