Saturday, February 19, 2011

The Bintulu Birdnest Merchants Association

From http://tribune.my 
BINTULU: The Bintulu Birdnest Merchants Association has officially been registered. This was disclosed by its protem chairman, Chieng Lea Phing at a press conference here yesterday. He said the Registrar of Societies (ROS) had endorsed its application on June 29 this year after it was submitted six months ago.

“With the approval, we are now inviting merchants or traders dealing with birdnests including swiftlet house owners to come and register as members,” said Chieng, adding that those interested to get involved in the birdnest business or breeding of swiflets are also welcomed as members.

Chieng added that in view of the mushrooming of the swiftlet breeding industry because of the lucrative overseas market, an association was needed to look after the interests of its members and help them to develop the foreign markets.

“Our primary objective is to help our members to achieve a healthy and proper development of the birdnest business. Membership is open to all races and those aged 21 years and above are eligible to apply with the registration fee of RM100 and a subsequent monthly fee of RM10,” he said.

Chieng also said that the election of new office bearers would be held during its inaugural annual general meeting to be held in the first quarter of next year.

Those interested to apply for membership are advised to contact Chieng (013-8332123), Eric Pau (012-8881458) or Yong Hock (012- 8708898).

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.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Need to ensure safety in swiftlet industry

Need to ensure safety in swiftlet industry


Lucrative business: A structure use for swiftlet farming in the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu.
KOTA KINABALU: Swiftlet farming is a lucrative industry but steps must be taken to ensure it does not have a negative impact on the environment and the people. Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Peter Pang En Yin said there was a need to make sure the activity was carried out in specific areas. “We have to bear in mind that local authorities do not allow swiftlet farming at shoplots or commercial lots in townships and urban areas as these properties are gazetted for residential, commercial, industrial and tourism purposes. “They are not zoned for swiftlet farming so I advise those in the industry to wait for the endorsement of the Swiftlet Industry Guidelines (SIG) by the Federal Cabinet,” said Pang, who is also the State Youth and Sports Minister.

With SIG, local authorities could determine the zones allowed for swiflet farming and those involved in the industry would have a set of regulations to adhere to, he added. Sabah Swiftlet House and Bird’s Nest Industry Association president George Ng had said that the SIG, reported to have the full support of the health, agriculture and agro-based industries and the Housing and Local Government Ministry, was supposed to be tabled at the Federal Cabinet meeting at the end of last month but was delayed. If accepted, it would give the industry the much-needed framework to operate in a sustainable manner and put Malaysia ahead of leading bird’s nest

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Eye on swiftlet breeding premises

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 (1GP) 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 RM5billion 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 (GAHP) 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.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Birds of fortune

Birds of fortune

by Sidi Munan. Posted on January 30, 2011, Sunday
THEY look like giant match boxes with tiny windows, not the architectural models submitted for aesthetic contests. Each would cost from RM30,000 to RM200,000 to build. They are substitutes for caves used by the birds, not ordinary birds, but those kinds that build their nests with their saliva – the most expensive saliva in the world and one of the main export items from the State. You do not require containers for these products; one hand luggage that fits into the overhead compartment of an aircraft, if stuffed with edible nests. contains a lot of money on the Singapore market.

BIRD OF FORTUNE: Picture of a small bird of fortune.
At one stage, the Sarawak government was concerned with over harvesting of those nests in the caves and wanted them protected. To regularise the collections, licences were issued by the Sarawak Museum to traditional owners of caves and the Forest department enforces the regulations relating to the rearing of swifts especially in the shop houses in towns and cities.
These birds have been living in our caves as old as the caves themselves, Niah being most famous of them all. Many caves are also found in the Ulu Baram, Suai and in Bau and on the islands, Satang Besar being one of them; many more across the border, in the Kalimantan.
Nowadays they have new homes of concrete built for them in the countryside. Those who squat in the shop houses are having problem with the law, and often get chased away because they are so noisy and careless with their toilet habits. The city people want to have peace and quiet in the evening and don’t appreciate their kind of music.
Last weekend, I was surprised to see at least twenty huge match boxes on both sides of the road to Pendam and Sebuyau. These bird houses have mushroomed for the past one year. Many are still under construction – concrete evidence of the confidence in the future of the trade in the edible nests.
I am told there is big money in those match boxes full of birds. Their nests, if properly processed, find ready market in Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and in other cities in China. As of last week, a kilogram of good grade of nests (processed) fetched between RM11000 –RM19000!
According to a recent media report, Malaysia is the second largest producer of edible birds nests after Indonesia. From Sarawak alone several hundred tons of nests of all grades, subject to correction, have been harvested since 1990.