Sabah moves to streamline swiftlet farming policy

Published: Tuesday April 20, 2010 MYT 2:38:00 PM
Updated: Tuesday April 20, 2010 MYT 2:49:42 PM
The Star
By MUGUNTAN VANAR


KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is moving to draw up policy guidelines on swiftlet farming as the state seeks to soothe ruffled feathers following its ban on bird nest farming in towns.

State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Hajiji Mohd Nor said that the guidelines would be drawn up with Wildlife Department to put in place to encourage a systematic development of the lucrative birds nest industry.

''I want to stress that the ban on swiftlet farms in urban centres was not a move against the swiftlet industry as we are very aware of the economic potential, he told the house during question hour when the issue of the ban was raised.

''We want the industry to be regulated in a systematic manner. Our decision to ban such farming activities was for environmental, health and cleanliness purposes in the city and towns, he added.

He said the government had good intentions in banning the farming of swiftlets at shophouses, commercial centres and other urban centres in all towns as it was done in the greater interest of the general public in term of cleanliness and health issues.

The state cabinet decided to ban ranching of birds in all town areas statewide but the move drew flak as industry players urged the government reconsider the decision that would affect incomes of scores of people harvesting bird nests