Shophouse owners who breed swiftlets in their premises warned
SIBU: The authorities have had enough of the nonsense; they want swiftlet farming in shophouses stopped immediately.
Shophouse owners in the central business district (CBD) here who misuse their premises for swiftlet farming have been told to cease their operations or face stern action.
The Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) has received numerous complaints from the public against the music played on loudspeakers to attract the birds which posed a nuisance.
SMC chairman Clarence Ting told the monthly council meeting yesterday that apart from the noise pollution, swiftlet farming was also a health hazard.
He said the council would initiate a joint operation with the Forestry Department — the licence issuing body —and the Land and Survey Department against the owners for breaching the conditions stated in their title deeds.
“The first stage of action will be to close down these activities in the CBD area before moving on to other areas within the council’s jurisdiction,” he said.
SMC and forestry officials had issued several warnings in the past against rearing birds in shophouses as their droppings were unhygienic and posed a health hazard. But apparently the warnings have fallen on deaf ears.
Under Sarawak’s Wildlife Protection Rules, swiftlet farming is permitted only on agricultural land or in rural areas.
On a separate issue, Ting warned councillors and council staff against leaking confidential information.
He said as all of them had signed the oath of secrecy, they should abide by the oath in treating council decisions as confidential.
“There should not be any leakage of information, especially those on tender and quotation matters.”
