MIRI: Tourism, Arts and Culture Assistant Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shim said keeping birds and taking part in bird-singing contests might not be a hobby anymore as it can be turned into a commercial venture.
“Commercialise your bird-keeping hobby by breeding them. But make sure that you apply for the relevant licences from the Sarawak Forest Department.
“Exotic birds have a large following here. Forty local bird lovers have been issued with licences while 500 are waiting for approval.
“Those interested in the venture can initiate an indigenous bird breeding programme apart from keeping the birds for collections,” Lee said when he officiated at a bird-singing contest held at the parking lot of Giant shopping mall in Permyjaya here, yesterday.
Lee also believed that the breeding programme could help to increase the population of indigenous birds.
“The breeding of exotic or indigenous birds is a new commercial venture which is encouraged apart from the rearing of swiftlets (burung walit) for their nests.
“The State Forest Department had approved 2,000 bird possessing licences which indicated that a bird-breeding programme can be commercialised,” he pointed out.
Lee was also optimistic that the bird-singing contest could boost tourist arrivals to Miri city.
The contest organised by Kelab Pencinta Burung Kicau Miri managed to attract 300 contestants not only from throughout the state but Brunei and Indonesia with 600 indigenous birds displayed.
Nine categories were competed in the contest, namely Serindit, Murai Batu Kepala Putih, Murai Kampung (A), Murai Batu Kepala Hitam (A), Kenari, Murai Batu Kepala Hitam (B), Murai Kampung (B), pleci and lovebird.
During the event Lee announced a grant of RM5,000 to Kelab Pencinta Burung Kicau Miri, the contest organiser.
Also present was Kelab Pencinta Burung Kicau Miri chairman Mohd Azahar Bujang.
