Move ruffles feathers

The response from ASNI to the opening salvo from the National Council for Local Government. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that you cannot relocate the swiftlets. One way is perhaps to "buy out" the swiftlet farm owners - renovation cost plus RM1000 per nest in the birdhouse? Even that might not solve the problem because a lot of owners are very emotionally attached to their birds and the birdhouse eg. yours truly.

Again I asked the question. Is UNESCO asking for the birdhouse to be moved out ? afterall the birdhouse were there when the World Heritage status was awarded to Georgetown and Melaka.

Jackie

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Wednesday September 8, 2010
The Star
By ANDREA FILMER
andrea@thestar.com.my


GEORGE TOWN: The Association of Swiftlet Nests Industry (ASNI) Penang branch is crying foul over the ban on swiftlet farming in the Penang and Malacca heritage enclaves.

Branch president Carole Loh (pic) claimed the association was getting “mixed signals” over the issue as a Heritage Zone Swiftlet Premises Regulation Committee had been set up at the national level to regulate swiftlet operators in heritage zones.

“The last meeting of the committee was held in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 23 and it was chaired by Heritage Commissioner Prof Emeritus Datin Zuraina Majid.

“ASNI is disappointed and confused that an announcement has been made (on the banning of swiftlet far-ming in heritage areas) when this committee is still in existence to evaluate swiftlet operators on a case-by-case basis,” said Loh, who is also the ASNI national secretary.

She claimed that the members of the regulation committee had already been selected, with some being present at the meeting.

“The Veterinary Department, Penang and Malacca Town and Country Planning departments, George Town World Heritage Incorporated, Malacca World Heritage Office and ASNI are members and most were represented.

“It was also decided that the Agriculture Ministry and Information, Communication and Culture Ministry would be included in the committee,” she said.

On Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the National Council for Local Government had decided that swiftlet farming would be prohibited in Penang and Malacca heritage enclaves.

Muhyiddin added, however, that a three-year grace period would be given to current operators.

The Penang Government subsequently announced that a meeting would be held after Hari Raya to work out a mechanism to implement the grace period for swiftlet farms to move to agriculture areas.

Loh reiterated that it would be difficult for swiftlet operators to move.

“There is no way for us to move. The birds roam freely and build nests in the pre-war houses.

“We do not feed them or confine them,” Loh said.