Regulate, not ban swiftlet breeding, Penang urged

Tuesday December 29, 2009
The Star


GEORGE TOWN: The Association of Swiftlet Nests Industry (ASNI) is urging the Penang Government to manage and regulate the business instead of closing it down, its president Carole Loh said the association was always ready to work with the state government and the authorities for a win-win solution.

“The state should consider bird nest as a natural resource and exploit its potential instead of stunting its growth,” she said.

Loh also said bird houses should not be singled out as destroying the heritage quality of the interior of buildings because for buildings other than those in Class 1 such as Khoo Kongsi, owners are required to ensure that only the facade maintains its heritage features.

“The bird nest business in the inner city has managed to restore and rehabilitate at least 8.3% out of an estimated 3,500 abandoned pre-war buildings following the repeal of the Rent Control Act in 2000,” she said.

Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) president Khoo Salma Nasution had on Thursday criticised the state government’s decision to extend the moratorium on the breeders saying that the move would be a breach of Unesco’s heritage management guidelines.