Provide guidelines, local authorities urged

LOCAL authorities have been urged to provide standard guidelines for licences to operate swiftlet nest farms in shoplots or commercial areas.

With bird’s nest consumption becoming popular among Malaysians, swiftlet farms are mushrooming, with about 150,000 farms nationwide.

Bird’s nest farming was introduced from Indonesia a few decades ago and this business is now booming. The local government would lose a huge income if licences are not given out.

Swiftlet nest operator Janson Gan, who has been cultivating bird’s nest in Kedah and Tanjung Malim, Perak, for the last seven years said many of these swiftlet nest operators were not aware of the procedures involved in getting the licences from the local governments.

“It is only right for operators to apply for licences to operate at shoplots. It is similar to carrying out renovations to a house,” he said.

“Many of the local authorities do not have any guidelines on this.

“The authorities checking on swiftlets farms must ensure that operators have proper water discharge outlets, that speakers are placed and that food outlets are not located nearby.
“I don’t see any problem in swiftlet farms being located in a shoplot. We are only not supposed to rear these in residential areas as the noise pollution and birds droppings could cause health problems,’’ said Gan.

He added that bird’s nest was divided into two groups — Cave Nest and House Nest.

The Cave Nest is harvested in the cave, especially in Sarawak. As the nests are harvested in the wild they are of better quality and have more nutrients. The processed birds nest can cost RM18,000 to RM20,000 per kg.

The House Nest that is harvested comercially from shoplots and buildings is about RM12,000 to RM13,000 a kg for the processed bird’s nest.

“Because of its popularity, some corporate sectors are conducting roadshows to enlighten swiftlet nest farm operators on how to apply for licences, ensure quality control and manage a farm,” said Gan.

Harvesting the exotic bird’s nest

Stories by STUART MICHAEL

THE collection of the exotic bird’s nest, a traditional Chinese delicacy which could cost anything from RM12,000 a kg onward, is now the rage at the Pusat Bandar Country Homes in Rawang.
StarMetro visited a commercial area at the Pusat Bandar Country Homes in Bandar Country Homes, Rawang, and discovered the many indoor bird’s nest farms operating illegally from three-storey buildings in the area.

Six rows of shoplots in Jalan Pusat BCH 1A, Jalan Pusat BCH 1/3, Jalan Pusat BCH 1/4 and Jalan Pusat BCH 1/4 are vacant as their owners had difficulty renting them out.

Five rows of the empty shoplots have been converted into indoor swiftlet nest farming areas. These bird nest centres are hidden from public view.
Tunnel route: The PVC pipes sticking out of this shoplot are used by the birds to enter and leave the place.

The windows of the buildings are painted black to block the sunlight, and there are no business signboard on them. The bird’s nest farming area is normally located on the second or third floor of these buildings.

Almost all the doors leading to the collection area are padlocked. Several of the buildings even have two padlocked black steel doors each.

All around the buildings are speakers blaring out swiftlet sounds round-the-clock to attract birds to build their nests in the building.

Hollow PVC pipes are installed in the wall as a sort of small tunnel access for the birds to go in and out of the buildings.
Few people have seen the bird’s nest collectors as they usually do their collection late at night.
According to studies, the number of swiftlet farms in the country has grown from 150 in 1997 to more than 30,000 in 2007. However, it is believed that only 30% to 40% of these are successful or viable.

Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) safety and enforcement director Ahmad Faisal Badiuzaman said he was not aware of the council issuing any licence to anyone to operate any indoor bird’s nest farm in Bandar Country Homes.

“As such, all of the bird’s nest farm operators are illegal. The council forbids shop lots or housing areas to be converted into a bird’s nest farming areas and it will take action on the shop owners,” he said.

“We only give licences to the collection of swiftlet nests in an open space like an outdoor farm. Those who want to collect bird’s nest in an open farm can apply for the licences,” he said.
Bandar Country Homes Residents Association president Soong Beng Khoon said turning the shoplots into bird’s nest collection centres was unhygienic.

“There are many eateries in the area, especially at the shoplots.

For the convenience of birds: The windows with black panes are left slightly open to enable the swiftlets to fly in and out.

“If the authorities do not give the licences, they should find a suitable venue for the bird’s nest operators,’’ he said.