Housing for the birds

By RASLAN BAHAROM

A single storey low-cost unit turned into triple storey swift hotel is causing anxiety among residents in Kuala Sepetang.

A FISHMONGER and his 80-year-old father have moved out of their home following the arrival of swiftlets which have built their nests next to their low-cost house in Kuala Sepetang, Perak.
Beh Ah Keong (pic) and his father are believed to be the first residents in Malaysia to have moved out of their house due to swiflet problem.

A single storey low-cost unit turned into triple storey swift hotel is causing anxiety among residents in Kuala Sepetang.

Perak has been listed as having the biggest production of swiftlet nest.
According to Beh, he decided to move out when large cracks appeared on the walls and floors of his house in Aulong after a neighbouring unit was turned into a three-storey house for swiftlet nest farming.

“When it rains, water seeps through the cracks and floods my house. We cannot open the doors and windows for fear that the swiftlets will fly inside our home,” claimed Beh, 46.

He also alleged that fellow tenants in the low-cost housing scheme, which numbered about 55 units, were also facing noise pollution because of the swiftlets.

Commenting on the matter, Taiping Municipal Council president Omor Saad said the setting up of swiflet nests was prohibited in public housing schemes.
“My officers will investigate the matter,’’ he said.

The council may need a court decree to demolish the premises housing the swiftlets if the owner or operator was found to have violated the local building by-laws, he said.

In the meantime, Beh and his father are staying with friends and relatives while waiting for the outcome of the investigation.

Bird hotel owners told to be mindful

lNST
2009/08/03

By Sim Bak Heng

OWNERS of swiftlet hotels are advised to keep their premises clean and nuisance-free.

Batu Pahat Birds' Nest Traders' Association chairman Tan Teck Poh said this was to minimise the number of public complaints.

He was speaking at the recent launch of the association's website -- www.birdnestbp.org.

He urged swiflet hotel owners to instal a timing system at their premises to ensure that calls to attract swiftlets will automatically be switched off by 8pm.


He said there was no point playing the call after that time because swiftlets do not fly at night.

Tan said it was crucial for owners to establish a good rapport with their neighbours and be considerate about their feelings.

"For swiftlet hotels in old shophouses, the owners must renovate or clean up the buildings so that it does not become an eyesore.

"The birds' nest industry is growing rapidly with more demand coming from China.

"I would like to encourage breeders to venture into the China market," he said.

Tan said there are many swiftlet hotels in Batu Pahat town and any decision by the government to relocate the hotels will severely affect the industry. He said the birds like to dwell in populated areas and do not fly in the suburbs.

"I hope the government will continue to issue a licence to owners of swiftlet hotels in old shophouses," he added.

Swiftlet farmers cry foul

By PHILIP HII

SWIFTLET farmers in Sarawak are crying foul over what they claimed as “double standard” in the authorities not issuing licences to them.

There are an estimated 1,500 swiftlet farms in Sarawak.

Only two, one in Kuching and the other in Mukah, have been given licences to operate. The rest of the 1,498 are operating illegally.

They want to know why when several West Malaysian states can give out licences and provide guidelines for swiftlet farming, Sarawak cannot do the same.

“Even our new Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak openly supports swiftlet farming. I just don’t understand why Sarawak cannot follow,” lamented a bumiputra swiftlet farmer from Mukah.

When contacted and pressed on this “double standard” issue, an officer from the Sarawak Forestry Corporation Sdn Bhd (SFC) who wished to remain anonymous, said Sarawak will not blindly follow all the guidelines and rules which have been implemented in West Malaysia.”

“We have our own rules and we will not implement those rules which clearly contravene our own state rules” hesaid.

Under the 1998 Wild Life Protection Ordinance, no one is permitted to carry out swiftlet farming within the town areas. Under the rule, the edible birds nest of the species aerodramus fuciphagus and aerodramus maximus which are protected animals, are only permitted to be bred in agricultural areas in the outskirts other than its original habitat like the natural caves.
The officer, however, added that the state government always supports legitimate swiftlet farming on agriculture land as it recognises that it is a highly profitable industry.

As for the guidelines, he said this will take time as it involves several ministries and departments.

Malaysia is now the world’s third largest producer and exporter of edible birds nest, producing about 150 to 200 tonnes of birds nest worth RM1bil annually.

The top producing states are Perak, Pahang, Kelantan, Penang and Sarawak is catching up fast if not for the recent raids on illegal swiftlet farms throughout the state.

After several warnings to demolish the farms on their own failed, enforcement officers from SFC sprang into action in October last year. The small coastal town of Mukah was their first target.
Fourteen farms, all converted from the town’s shophouses were raided. In the operation carried out by SFC officers from Kuching and aided by police personnel, the farm owners claimed that hundreds of eggs and young swiftlets were killed, either dropping to their death when their nests were removed or starved to death after their parents were forced to flee.

After several days of protests from swiftlet farmers in Mukah as well as other towns and the intervention of politicians and ministers, the operation slowed down.

Several months have since passed.

There have been a few dialogues between SFC and representatives from the state’s several swiftlet farmers and swiftlet merchants associations.

Most members of the recently formed Sarawak Birdnest’s Suppliers Association (SBSA) are very optimistic that the state government will soon work out a win-win solution for this “smokeless industry.”

SBSA appeals to the authorities concerned to urgently solve the current impasse as any further delay will only contribute to greater financial losses to the farmers as well as the nation.

Meanwhile, the number of swiftlet farms continue to increase all over Sarawak. Sources said that each day at least two new farms are added to the growing list and many of the new swiftlet farmers are bumiputra farmers and fishermen living in the coastal regions.

Nest egg of swiftlet saliva

By Shah A.D

THE Teluk Intan Municipal Council has issued more than 500 permits for commercial swiftlet nesting activities since 2006, said its president Ibrahim Ahmad.

“The permits were issued on the conditions that the birds must be located away from housing areas and that the recording to lure the birds to the building must not be louder than 40 decibels.

“The council is working closely with the Department of Environment to monitor the breeding of the birds and also the harvesting of the bird’s nest,” he said at a meet-the-people session at the town hall in Teluk Intan yesterday.

The Prime Minister’s Department Public Complaints Bureau director Aziz Ismail, who was also present at the session, said he had received many compaints about the bird’s nest activities nationwide and investigations had shown that most of them were unlicensed

Proper curbs on swiftlet business needed

S. PARAM,
Ipoh

LATELY, there have been calls by individuals and concerned NGOs on the dangers of allowing swiftlet nesting to thrive without any form of regulations in the midst of human dwellings.
I can understand the fears, concern and frustrations of residents caught in the midst of booming swiftlet nestings in their neirbourhood.

I am sure the authorities have taken note of the problems, especially those that are associated with public health and environmental pollution.

Those unable to face the nuisance of these “illegal settlement” of swiftlets in their neibourhood can use electronic bird repellers to chase away these birds without harming them.
I am not sure whether such gadgets are available locally but they can be purchased in the international open market.

There are several types of bird repelling gadgets in the market.

The one that emits sound waves will automatically broadcast a variety of naturally recorded bird distress signals and predator calls to chase away nesting birds.

There are also bird-repellers that use harmless laser beams to frighten and confuse the birds, causing them to flee from the roosting spots.

Apparently these gadgets are said to be relatively cheap, handy and consumer-safe with inbuilt safety features.

They are fully registered in many countries although I am not sure whether they are allowed in Malaysia.

Some may not like the idea of using such devices for various reasons, including the possible misuse of the gadget.

However if something is not done fast enough, we may end up with a bigger problem later.
In the event of a disease outbreak such as bird flu, some people may use heinous and cruel methods to get rid of these beautiful feathered creatures because they fear that they may spread the disease.

The local authorities should put in place appropriate regulations so that the swiftlet business can continue to thrive freely without becoming a danger and nuisance to the public.
.

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.