As reported in The Star October 14, 2008
Time to move for swiftlet breeders
By TAN SIN CHOW
THE three-year period allowing swiftlet breeders to carry out their activity in residential premises is up soon.
Penang Town and Country Planning and Housing Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the state would hold talks with the breeders before the Dec 31 deadline.
“We want to strike a balance between exercising authoritative control and promoting the activities which bring in high returns.
“Hopefully, a win-win situation will be achieved,” he told reporters before a press conference on DAP’s victory dinner at the state headquarters yesterday.
The ban on bird nesting activities in residential premises was first announced by the previous administration in November 2005.
Effective Dec 31, 2005, operators who could not comply with the regulations were given three years to find a suitable location.
Licences and approval for such activities will be revoked if breeders do not comply with the guidelines.
It is learnt that more than 100 operators in George Town would be affected once the ban comes into effect.
Wong said the state had received complaints that swiftlet breeding was causing noise pollution.
He said the state was also looking into the creation of an eco-park to cater to the tourism industry but needed time to source for a suitable site.
“We are also looking into suggestions by the operators which include a site inspection in Indonesia where bird nest harvesting activities are widely carried out,” he said
7 comments:
Sir,
Those of us who live next to these birdhouses have suffer for many years already and finally, there is hope that we can get some quiet back by 31 December.
So, we hope you won't give in to the demands of a few selfish businessmen who don't care about the problems they bring to their neigbour as long as they make money.
Thank you.
Georgetown is now a heritage city. Use this opportunity to bring back life to Georgetown by making it resident-friendly and visitor-friendly.
Do we want to build a city for swiftlets or a city for people?
Move the swiftlet farms to areas such as Penang west coast or Mainland. It will also help promote economic activities there. Win-win situation!
Rgds,
Lizzie
Just a bit of noise, you all complain so much. We are not on 24 hours per day la....only few hours, you can still get your sleep at nite!
We open only bird house. We are no open karaoke or prostitute shop la...that's even worse, right???
Anyway when the bird comes and our house become successful, all the neighbour house will also appreciate in price. Then you will thanks us also not enough loh!
The above poster is typical of the arrogant and selfish attitute of the swiftlet breeders.
To them everything is about money. Please la, think about other people too.
You say it's "just a bit of noise"? Why don't you convert your residence into a swiftlet farm too? It is easy to say when you are not the one suffering. You breeders just switch on the sound and come back once a month to collect your money. But what about your poor neighbours who have to bear with it everyday?
And don't give silly examples like karaokes and prostitutions. Stealing is less a serious crime than murder, so does it make it alright to be a thief?
I still think swiftlet breeding should be banned in town area. It is only benefitting a small group of selfish "businessman" who makes their money while the majority of residents staying nearby have to bear the consequences.
Furthermore, the contribution from this industry is not as great as those supporters claim. A large percentage of swiftlet farms are failures (ie no nests), yet the breeders continue to operate it just because their cost is low (only electricity).
Please DAP, be far-sighted and take this opportunity to re-grow Georgetown and make it livable again. When people realise this, they will slowly come back to stay. And slowly, as residents grow, businesses will flourish again.
Rgds,
Lizzie
to the anonymous swiftlet breder above,
is it ok if someone operate a siwftlet farm next to your house?
is it ok if your wife, kids and parents are forced to listen to the noise and the smell from next door EVERYDAY?
REMEMBER THAT DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD OTHERS DO UNTO YOU!
YB Wong,
My search on Google brought me to your blog.
I read with concern, now the swiftlet breeders are setting up association to fight against relocation...but what about us? The victims? Who will fight for us?
I hope the State govt dont give in to further demands, otherwise it will keep delay and delay and there will be no end to the problem.
Sarawak here also got same problem, even worst because no guideline at all. Only government can help us, but from what I read, government is useless, scare to take action.
I very agree that swiftlet breeders care about money only.
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