Tuesday July 27, 2010
Petikan...The Star Online
PENANG will seek the input from stakeholders once it gets hold of the National Guidelines For Swiftlet Breeding which was passed in Cabinet about two weeks ago.
State Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the state was given a briefing by National Veterinary Department representatives prior to the passing of the new guidelines but “without much details”.
“Our officer have been requesting for the new guidelines these past two weeks but to date, we have yet to receive a copy.
“During the briefing, we also expressed our dismay that the consultation for the guidelines did not involve any heritage NGOs or World Heritage Office representatives.
“Those consulted were mainly swiftlets’ industry players,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Chow added that the industry players’ main focus is on the monetary side even though they claimed that by turning old houses into a bird house, they are doing heritage protection a service.
“But the bird houses make it a challenge for people to live, at times forcing the neighbours to move, and thus affect the living heritage aspect,” he said.
It was reported that at least 8% out of an estimated 3,500 abandoned pre-war buildings in inner George Town have been restored and rehabilitated by bird nest breeders.
Penang Heritage Trust council member Rebecca Duckett-Wilkinson said the health and safety issues are among the main concerns.
“Imagine the pollution from noise and bird droppings. It is in the state’s hands to make a policy and set a guideline on swiftlet houses.”
Association of Swiftlet Nests Industry president Carole Loh had said that the droppings outside belonged to pigeons, adding that swiftlets are very particular and only release their droppings in the house.
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