Tuesday, February 15, 2011

SMC to act against seven illegal swiftlet ‘farmers’

thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/2/15/sarawak/8062836&sec=sarawak

SIBU: Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) would soon take action against seven persons who had converted their residential houses in town into swiftlet farms.“We are in the final stages of compiling all the relevant information and documents,” said SMC deputy chairman Daniel Ngieng who stressed that they would act very soon, but did not specify what kind of action would be taken.

It is believed that the house owners would be given warning letters and told to demolish the farms within a specified period, failing which they would face legal action. “We will initially act on the houses and then we will do the same on commercial shophouses.” Last year, SMC gave several warnings to those who reared swiftlets in residential houses. This was after public had made many complaints to the council concerning the loud electronically generated bird calls used to attract the wild birds.

When contacted, Sarawak Bird’s Nest Supply and Merchants Association’s secretary Collin Wong said the association had regularly advised members and non-members not to operate swiftlet farms in residential areas.
“You should build them in the rural areas because in areas under the SMC jurisdiction, the council has the authority to take action.”

A swiftlet farmer who wanted to remain anonymous said SMC should also act against those who extended their shophouses illegally to accommodate swiftlet farms.

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