We are the residents, business owners, workers, students, and visitors of George Town and we do not want swiftlet farms in an urban area near our homes, our businesses, our schools, and our favourite restaurants.
Did you know that there are over 300 swiftlet farms operating in shophouses throughout George Town right now? The majority do not have any license to run such a business in George Town.
If you look closer at many of the ‘restored’ shophouses, you will realize that on the second floor, behind the pretty facade, hides the workings of a swiftlet farm. Swiftlet farmers buy or rent properties in George Town because it is more affordable then building a swiftlet farm in an agricultural area. When they move in, they rip out original windows and doors, block up the openings, tear down internal walls, set up a sprinkler system and buckets of water, put up planks with grooves for the birds to cling to, and 'restore' the facade of the house to hide the unlicensed operation.
When swiftlet farms take over shophouses in George Town, they bring noise, smell, property damage, and unsanitary conditions.
Are your children safe?
• Swiftlet houses carry the potential to spread disease through viruses carried by sick birds. Dr. Fadzilah Aini Abdul Kadir, the Director of Veterinary Services for the Malaysian federal government, issued a report entitled, "Good Animal Husbandry Practice (GAHP) for Swiftlets", which lists diseases carried by swiftlets. Please see page 34 of 42 here.
• Swiftlet houses carry the potential to spread disease from bird droppings within an enclosed area and sewage dumped into city drains. Dried bird droppings may become airborne and carry Cryptococcus, which can cause lung infections.
• Swiftlet houses may have pools of stagnant water resulting from indoor sprinklers. These errant houses are breeding grounds for mosquitoes, including Aedes mosquitoes, which spread dengue fever.
Is your business or investment safe from going to the birds?
• Swiftlet houses prevent a healthy environment, which business owners need to operate a successful restaurant, hotel, shop, and any other business in George Town.
• Swiftlet houses in shophouses cause water damage to adjoining properties, decreasing the market values of homes and businesses.
• Swiftlet houses create significant noise pollution by setting up speakers to blare bird calls day and night to attract swiftlets. That sound is not natural and causes sleepless nights for residents and visitors.
• Swiftlet houses create a horrible smell from hundreds of birds in a confined area of one shophouse. This smell drives customers and residents away. Businesses will soon follow.
• Swiftlet houses in shophouses in the heritage zone of George Town may result in the city losing its status as a UNESCO World Heritage site. This will do irreparable damage to Penang’s tourism industry, property values, and future development.
We need your help!
Federal lawmakers are now in discussions to issue Swiftlet Industry Guidelines (1GP) for Malaysia. To keep your family safe and your business successful, 1GP must clearly state that swiftlet houses should not be allowed in urban and residential areas.
Please call or email your government representatives as soon as possible to voice your concern and inform him/her that you do not want swiftlet houses in George Town (please click on the Contact Information link on the sidebar).
You can also follow this short message to make your appeal:
Swiftlet houses do not belong in urban and residential areas. Birds and their droppings are a menace to the health and safety of the people. The swiftlet houses in urban areas also cause damage to adjoining properties and create noise pollution that negatively affects businesses. We appeal to you to ensure our safety and the long-term sustainable future of George Town as a UNESCO World Heritage site. We appeal to you to ensure long-term benefit to all in George Town. Swiftlet farming belongs in agricultural areas where it can benefit the rural communities of Malaysia.
We also need your help to inform the public of the dangers of swiftlet houses in George Town. Please help us with the following:
1. Join this blog as a follower to show your support for this campaign.
2. Write to newspapers and send them your photos too. National or Local, English or Chinese or Tamil or Malay (please click on the Contact Information link on the sidebar)
3. Speak to your family, friends, and co-workers about this issue. And share this blog!
4. Email us addresses of swiftlet houses in George Town (if possible, please include pictures and a description of what business front is operating there).
5. Join the iGeorgeTown Facebook Cause called "Why George Town, Penang needs our attention".
6. Share your stories and pictures with us at: NoSwiftletHousesInGeorgeTown@gmail.com
We want to be clear that we do not want to ban swiftlet farming in Malaysia. We want swiftlet farming banned only from urban and residential areas, to ensure the safety of the residents and visitors of Malaysia. Swiftlet operations should only be allowed in agricultural areas where it can benefit the rural communities of Malaysia.
27 comments:
Good job on the site! We had bad experience too, living next to one such an inconsiderate bird breeder. Only after numerous complains to MPPP/State govt on put a stop to it.
Don't know if they will be back up again once the new rules are in place. But there need to be a concerted efforts by affected parties.
Suggest you get in touch with the Penang Heritage people as well to spread the news.
Hi there,
I am a Citizen Journalist from Malaysiakini and very interested to highlight this issue via video. I need to meet iGeorgetown to discuss further. Please visit our website cj.my
Our videos are uploaded to Malaysiakini too.
Jimmy Leow 012-4010883
For a person who know nothing about swiftlets and still can spread alot of rumours and lies about the lovable birds, I really admire you.
Just my request to you is to really understand the reasons why there are so many Birdhouses in the area and why they are not building it at agriculture land. Please learn and understand before deciding to spread unjust and totally lies about the whole issue.
Just a brief introduction about the swiftlets,
1. They are very clean animals and never shit outside like swallow and our experts have proven that they don't carry any diseases and infact very healthy that I personally provide swiftlets sanctuaries(birdhouse to you) for the last 20 years, in and out of the building using no face mask or protection as I know that they are very safe. Infact, most of our animals are dangerous to human being and even fellow human are a danger to ourself but not the swifltet, the saliva they produce seem to protect them from any diseases and that's why they are fetching such high price. Just look at me and I am still very healthy and haven't been to a doctor for the last 20 years for any illness. '
It's always the birds that choose the area and not us and that's why so many failure in the buz. Selection of core area are very importance and it's never the price of land cos if the land bring in swiftlets, the land shall worth millions or otherwise, useless.
I rather advice a compromised agreement to ensure the heritage problems be solved and within the cash coming from the nests, the old building will soon rot inside out.....bacause, the authorities can demand that the owners ensure the heritage buidings remain forever as there are very good reasons for them to do so out of good money.
Email me for what you want to know and I will gladly provide you with all you want to know, the truth and nothing but the truth about the whole issue. My email is wwoptic@gmail.com and forum nick name "West Wing". My name is Calvin Lee. I hope that I can be your friend and you shall be my friend and that of the swifltets when you learn the truth about the beauty of the swiftlets unless you have hidden agenda on the issue.
Hi,
I have been studied for this swiftlet, and so far, there is no proven data or news that there is any disease carry by the birds.
I have to clear it that im not in the swiftlet industry nor any related to it.
I think there is no any proven record that swiftlet will be carry or guide to the new arigiculture swiftlet house although the interest person want to see it. Also, i think during the process, there might be some swiftlet die due to human mishandling it, and we must ask ourself, do we want to see it?
I think we need to study deeper as why the swiftlet want to stay in that area and not other place? As everyone knows, that swiftlet is not you want them in there, they will follow...
what a load of salesman talk some of these swiftlet house owners are spewing.
tell me, will you honestly move your whole family - including aged parents/wife/kid/baby to stay in or next to one of your swiftlet farms?
if not, then why you think setting up a swiftlet house next to one of these houses where other people's parents/wife/kids/babies are staying, is alright?
fyi georgetown is hardly a dead town, many pre-war houses are occupied, some ancestral homes houses 3 generations. some are doing business downstairs and the family stays upstairs, some are rented to students/office workers etc.
you set up a swiftlet house and blast your "music" non-stop, you are not just disturbing 1 or 2 person but can be 10s to 100s in the surrounding areas. other people also have a right to some peace and quiet for their rest and relaxation.
we are not against swiftlet farming but please la, there are many ways to do it. do it at places where you don't disturb other people la. why so selfish? imagine if someone come and open a karaoke next to your house then how you feel?
Dear Anonymous,
To be frank and honest with you, you guess right and I am staying one floor below my BH and I have been staying there for the past 25 years.
Every weekends, I would go up to my birds and do maintenance for a few hours and then, I will clean up in the birdhouse itself and the birds aren't scared of me and will not fly out because they are so used to me.
As your comments on unconsiderate non-stop music (bird sound), an for that, I share your view but you are just refering to a few black sheeps amount the hundred of sheeps and I welcome you to make complaints to thebirdhouse local Association or to the authorities as we are also fedup with them. Mind you, my birdhouse do not play any music as I don't required the sound now and sound are only during the initial stage, you require the sound and if the sound is a problem to you or your friends, tell him (the birdhouse owner) off; are you afraid of him!! Give him a piece of your mind if you think he deserve it but otherwise stay cool, most of us ( bird sanctuaries providers) are good guys just like you and want peace and quite, too.
If you have read my postings @ Lowyatt, you will know that I have complaint about a birdhouse behind my parent house blasting days and night.....doing all the stupid things and still no bird!!!.
I too have family and so have all my friends ( non birdhouse owners) and don't you think that I care not for them but what I am posting here or anywhere are all the truths about swiftlets and not lies nor bla bla bla only..........I consider myself a true and peace loving man and hope to see one in you, too. Amen
Mr wes wing,
You may be what you write, about staying in your house and not playing the bird noise, I give you the benefit of the doubt here since I dont know you.
But please dont justify your case by saying there are only "a few" black sheeps out of hundreds.
take a honest assessment and take a walk around the bird rearing areas, how many are owner-occupied and how many are playing the noise softly? don't insult my intelligence. the reverse is true, the vast majority to play the bird noise loud and clear. the vast majority are not owner-occupied.
it easy to tell ppl to go and talk to your neighbour swiftlet house owner blah blah, but please la, mr west wing, i guess you must be in your 50s? you must have eaten salt more than i eat rice, you know this is bullshit advise. how many will actually bother with your complains? you're lucky if they dont retaliate by making the sound even louder.
if ppl of this age are so kindly and morally upright and will take any good "advise", then petty crime and decadence, kiasu attitudes, road rage incidents all would have all but disappeared.
if the majority of swiftlet farmers are so easy to deal with, would there be so widespread complaints by the general public?
you farmers may think we complainants all have some kind of ulterior motive or agenda to want to see you farmers fail, or we are some kind of environmental tree-huggers or just plainly "jealous" of your "successes".......but the truth is, most of us just want some peace and quiet back in our life before it was so rudely intruded upon.
myself personally is not against swiftlet rearing but please la, do it in places that dont intrude on other ppl's life.
Just that I wish you to know that those who don't cooperate can also kiss my ass as they have more to lose. They or the local Association of Swiftlets will gladly take up your case if you have any. If you really concerned about the loud noises, please go/phone to the Association, they will most happy to solve your problems for you...do't just take my words for it, please try and you will know that I am telling the truth as always.
Need not give your name, just tell them which building and the address is giving your neighborhood noise problem or other disturbance, you will notice that they will solve the problem. Hope that the phone call doesn't take alot of your time.
I never mentioed that ppl of this age are like that but most of us in this trade are kind and morally OK and will have ears for your complaints if reasonable as they have more to lose by not taking you seriously. A friend in need is always better than an enemy on hand, don't you agreed.
Petty crime and decadence, kiasu attitudes, road rage incidents are not our faults but modernization daily pressure and corruptions esp. city dwellers and you seldom find it in kampung and with BHs owners.
"if the majority of swiftlet farmers are so easy to deal with, would there be so widespread complaints by the general public?" Good question but are you really sure of widespread complaints and that show that you are alreay bias against the industry @ town. How do you know that there are widespread complaints and did you ever make a complaint to the farmer himself and if you haven't, then you have no right to comment at all, don't you agreed? You must be a chinese cos I am one and I know that we always scare to speak up out of fear but I always complain and speak up when I am right and need to........
Next time, if you fail to talk sense to the person personally, go/phone up the Association to complaint and why didn't you exercise you right and what are afraid off?? Once that you have done so, you will see that we are a group of good and well mannered men.
Remember that many of us are professionals by occupation and only provide Swiftlets Sanctuaries so that we may have a better retirement benefits for our families. Presently, nothing can be invested for the future as bonds or shares even children cannot be depend upon for retirement with exception for the swiftlets Sanctuary ...... they are inflation proof and realible.
Claimed that swiftlets farms bring desease, damage property also baseless. Again, as repeated above, these species already stay in towns during our grandfather age. Nobody make any big fuss about it. Those you find at the five foot ways till today are a bigger species called grass swift. Swiftlet stays in many abandoned building in towns since ages ago. What deseases have they spread since your grandfather age?
This species is very special if you do enough study on them. They don’t mix around with others migrating birds, they don’t perch on trees or ground or mixed with domestic animals, they fly at high attitude during the day, and most importantly they consume insects. Which in away reduce flies and mosquitoes and beetles etc. Compare animals that consume meat and insects and see the difference. We humans are dirtier that swiftlets, if you think properly. Our human dispose is smell far worst than hundreds of swifltlet combine.
With the discovery of this new industry, local folks are revamping and restored old dilapidated abandoned building to something useful, something like of provide cottage industry for old folks and creating jobs. Contractors, nest cleaners, housekeepers, to traders and exporters are very glad they discovered this industry 10yrs ago. Now they thanks God they can survive and send their sons and daughters to study overseas. Else what kind of income can support town folks? Young ones migrate to big towns or overseas, left old folks. Factories and moving out of the country, country FDI falling down and down. Hundreds and thousands of folks direct or indirectly benefited from this new found industry like tin mines and rubbers. If you don’t believe, go demolish all swifthouses, see how many people with die under your hand and the country plummet to the lowest point.
Since with old buildings, new building, not so new buildings already in existance, and swiftlet aleady in existance in town (with or without swiftlet shophouses), people are just capitalised on the strended assets and made full use of it. Why need to folk out $52 BILLION RINGGIT to stay from no where, and risk to loss $42 BILLION if the birds did not co-operate?
Please noted that YB Ong Ka Chuan when he was a Local Housing Minister many times giving green lights to swiftlet farming in commercial shoplots. Besides, many ministers and even PMs support this industry. It is legal mind you. Unless you are talking about swiftlet in residential houses or flats, that’s illegal.
Please get your facts right and don’t put baseless accusation on this new cottage industry.
The only problem that we agreed is noise problem. That too can be solved. External noise only allowed played from 7am-8pm. Noise level is the issue that we need co-operation from the shop owners, and that can be solved, thru associations, town councils etc.
Sorry for any offence and thank you for the opportunity to voice our view.
Bobby
Do you know that swiftlets already in existence in major towns in the country during our grandfathers and great great grandfathers age, way before existence of any swiftlet shop houses? Shop owners only provide a place for the birds to stay? Instead of staying at the five foot ways and shit like in the past, now all business is contained inside the house and not affecting any outsiders. Claimed that swiftlets dropping stain your cars and streets are utter nonsense. These species do not perch on the trees or hanging wires. You are probably mixing with other species like pigeons or swift.
In the past, people are providing place for grass swift to stay at the five foot ways in all towns in the country due to ‘feng shui’ believe, but nobody complaining. Now everything contain inside the shophouse, like you human stay inside your own house, eat and shit and fart inside, why outsiders have to say you cannot do this and tat. Hey, tell me what business to do then? How to maintain the building? Upper floors no tenants, building abandoned due to lousy country GDP, bad investment, tell me how to maintain the building then!? Talk is cheap.
You so call pro heritage folks should be grateful to the swiftlet farmers to buy all these dilapidated old shophouses, revamped, restored it to its past glory with the income from swiftlet nests. Win-win situation for all, for the birds and for the pro heritage folks. Façade of the old building are well maintained, what else you need to complain?
Without swiftlets, please advise what other businesses can town folks do. Open your mind, don’t look only at Penang, look at all small towns in the country. Do you suggest shop owners follow Singapore footsteps, turn the pre-historic shophouses into pubs, KO-K, whatever you can think of like Mohamad Sultan Road in Spore. May be you folks will be happier at night?!
Author claimed that swiftlet houses in agriculture land is affordable is utterly baseless. Piece of 1 acre agriculture land can cost from min $100k to >$300k pending on area. A new smallest swiftlet house cost min average $200k. Putting a building in a no men’s landed is a big no no, unless you are cash rich. The risk is too high. If swiftlet refuse to stay in your building, please tell us what are you going to do with the building?! Min $300-$400k going down the drain mind you!
Please be informed that failure rate of these industry is around 80%.
Please also be informed that security is the biggest issue now, even broad day like in the city also get robbed, of course, non of your concern.
Please also be informed that the government is targeting 130,000 units of bird houses in the country to bring the country GDP to higher level, as promise by our beloved PM. 130,000 x $400,000 = $52,000,000,000.00 ie RM52 Billion! Where to find this kind of money with failure rate of >80%. You what the country to gamble away with RM52 BILLION? Again, talk is cheap.
Bobby
This guy West Wing claims to have been in the swiftlet rearing business for 25 years, well if it's been that long, his swiftlet house would have been likely to be a NATURAL, ie the birds came by themselves without the need to call/attract them. So if that is true, West Wing would know little about the necessity of calling the birds and the later requirements of building a successful swiftlet house. In other words he has just been lucky.
Judging from West Wing's post in the lowyat forum, it is clear that he is arrogant and thinks very highly of himself. Apparently only his opinion matters and all other other conflicting ideas are treated as not listening to him! Perhaps he is a self acclaimed Guru in his small world, but there are many out there who are probably more knowledgable in this field. "Katak di bawah tempurung" as the saying goes.
West wing claims to want to educate and be friends with non swiftlet house owners on but he promptly retreats into his forum space when there is a difference in views. Hardly mature.
The point is that louder music does attract more birds. Whether they stay or not is a different matter dependent on house design and many other factors.
West Wing is obviously not operating from Penang! Knows little about what's happening in Georgetown. Come meet some of the swiftlet house owners in Georgetown and Nibung Tebal and see if you can convince them to turn the sound down without getting a fist in the face, if not worse. Janet Pillai nearly did! Go ask Teng Hock Nan, Pilus, they faced the hostile crowd. Better still as David Lim the Robin Hood of swiftlet farmers.
It is probably true that the swiftlets in urban areas have adapted to living in human built homes and probably now an accepted sub species as postulated by the Earl of Cranbrook, probably the world's most reknowned swiftlet authority. please read http://www.slideshare.net/yongkangbirdnest...lets-specialist
True that there are many reasonable swiftlet farmers around who care for their neighbours but the errant few does highlight the badness of this situation. This of course is accentuated by the lack of enforcement from local council and a strict guideline from the government.
Heritage building have indeed been destroyed by swiftlet farmers but out of necessity. Owners need income to survive and rentals are minimal, hardly enough to pay the assessment and maintenance.
Many swiftlet house owners in heritage zones have diligently sought to maintain the facade of these buildings but it takes money and this comes from swiftlet farming !
Not everyone has the resources of eg. Laurence Loh or Bon Ton etc. to keep these buildings whole and hope to make enough to cover the expenditure. It's something where many have failed.
There is absolutely no necessity to have each and every heritage building restored to it's original glory INTERNALLY, after all who would it satisfy ? Tourist would need to spend monotonous months in Georgetown to see all the insides of these buildings. Badan Warisan should select a few to be restored wholly !
Finally, there are many successful houses built in rural districts, though slow to start off, the birds do come. Swiftlets are adaptable to survive and though the colony cannot be moved, they do get attracted to houses in agricultural areas, just build them the right house.
Anon,
You harsh response was not warranted and missing the target. You hv merely insulted a kindly gentleman who was here to help. (some consider him a selfless high priest of swiftlet sanctuaries)
Noise level frm IMPROPERLY DESIGNED sanctuaries is NOT in dispute.
There will be a national guideline (1GP) soon to be issued that will be brought to bear on the delinquent ones.
WE ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. It would be a mistake to take the delinquent ones as the norm instead of exception.
I am here (and am sure many frm the LowYat forum bear the same purpose)on invite to help clear any more of yr points based on ignorance.
It's wiser to understand more than to be discredited at the crucial last moment. Shall we proceed w/o getting too emotional or personal?
http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1397059
Please visit to discus the reasons why there should be no swiftlet houses in Georgetown.
Invite all your supporters.
Tuckfook
Come on folks, lets discus this at
http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1397059
It's a better format for everyone to review.
If it's all quiet from Y'all, may we take it as there are no objections to having such activities in Georgetown?
Don't be shy ! Get active and I'll inform the various authorities to look in.
Dear sirs,
Can you advise what going to happen in future when towns expand and agri lands next door coverts to housing and commercial land? What going to happen 10-20 yrs down the road? Move again?
By the way, these species were discovered in many building in the ...50',60', 70',80'.. and now 2010 at the five foot ways, under the bridges, inside abandoned buildings, under the basement carparks etc. With or without bird houses, THEY ARE IN TOWNS, HERE TO STAY! Unless you can communicate with the swiftlets, tell them go go, shoo shoo, tick tick, stay away from towns, they are here to stay!
another moron comment from selfish swiftlet breeders that think the world of themselves. no wonder your kind is so quick to intrude on and disturb other people's life with your loud bird noise.
and when those affected ppl complain, you label them as selfish, ignorant, hidden agenda and jealous.
"If it's all quiet from Y'all, may we take it as there are no objections to having such activities in Georgetown? "
please la, who do you think you are?? and who do you think we are??
do think you represent all the swiftlet house owner? and do you think we represent all the tens of thousand of residents in georgetown?
ask the 10 or so households around my area which is affected by the daily NON STOP bird noise first la.
Do you know that swiftlets already in existence in major towns in the country during our grandfathers and great great grandfathers age, way before existence of any swiftlet shop houses? Shop owners only provide a place for the birds to stay? Instead of staying at the five foot ways and shit like in the past, now all business is contained inside the house and not affecting any outsiders. Claimed that swiftlets dropping stain your cars and streets are utter nonsense. These species do not perch on the trees or hanging wires. You are probably mixing with other species like pigeons or swifts.
In the past, people are providing place for grass swift to stay at the five foot ways in almost all towns in the country due to ‘feng shui’ believe, but nobody complaining. Now everything contain inside the shophouse, like you human stay inside your own house, eat and shit and fart inside, why outsiders have to say you cannot do this and tat. Hey, tell me what business to do then? How to maintain the building? Upper floors no tenants for many yrs, building abandoned due to lousy country GDP or bad investment, tell me how to maintain the building then!? How to pay the bank? Talk is cheap.
You so call pro heritage folks should be grateful to the swiftlet farmers for buying all these dilapidated old shophouses, revamped, restored it to its past glory with the income from swiftlet nests. Win-win situation for all, for the birds and for the pro heritage folks. Façade of the old building are well maintained, what else you need to complain?
Without swiftlets, please advise what other businesses can town folks do. Open your mind, don’t look only at Penang, look at all small towns in the country. Do you suggest shop owners follow Singapore footsteps, turn the pre-historic shophouses into pubs, KO-K, whatever you can think of like Mohamad Sultan Road in Spore. May be you folks will be happier at night?!
con't
Author claimed that swiftlet houses in agriculture land is affordable is utterly baseless. Piece of 1 acre agriculture land at the west coast can cost from min $100k to >$300k pending on area. A new smallest swiftlet house cost min average $200k. Putting a building in a no men’s landed is a big no no, unless you are cash rich. The risk is too high. If swiftlet refuse to stay in your building, please tell us what are you going to do with the building?! Min $300-$400k going down the drain mind you!
Please be informed that failure rate of these industry is around 80%.
Please also be informed that security is the biggest issue now, even broad day like in the city also get robbed, of course, non of your concern.
Please also be informed that the government is targeting 130,000 units of bird houses in the country to bring the country GDP to higher level, as promise by our beloved PM. 130,000 x $400,000 = $52,000,000,000.00 ie RM52 Billion! Where to find this kind of money with failure rate of >80%. You want the country to gamble away with RM52 BILLION? Again, talk is cheap.
Claiming that swiftlets farms bring diseases, damage property also baseless. Again, as repeated above, these species already stay in towns during our grandfather age. Nobody make any big fuss about it. Those you find at the five foot ways till today are a bigger species called grass swift. Swiftlet stays in many abandoned building in towns since ages ago. What diseases have they spread since your grandfather age? You and me probably wont be around today! Swiftlet farms damaged property? Have you seen swiftlet dropping? It is like your house lizard drop. What damage to the property are you talking about? Quoted from your blog, ‘behind the pretty facade, hides the workings of a swiftlet farm’? The blogger is clearly contradicting him or herself. One hand stated property damage, the other hand stated pretty façade?
This species is very special if you do enough study on them. They don’t mix around with others migrating birds, they don’t perch on trees or ground or mixed with domestic animals, they fly at high attitude during the day, and most importantly they consume insects. Which in away reduce flies and mosquitoes and beetles etc. Go compare animals that consume meat and insects and see the great difference. We humans are dirtier that swiftlets, if you think properly. Our human faeces smells far worst than hundreds of swifltlet combine.
con't
With the discovery of this new industry, local folks are revamping and restored old dilapidated abandoned building to something useful, something like provide cottage industry to local folks and creating jobs. Contractors, nest cleaners, housekeepers, to traders and exporters are very glad they discovered this industry 10yrs ago. Now they thanks God they can survive and send their sons and daughters to study overseas. Else what kind of income can support town folks? Young ones migrate to big towns or overseas, left old folks. Factories are moving out of the country, country FDI falling down and down. Hundreds and thousands of folks direct or indirectly benefited from this new found industry like tin mines and rubbers. If you don’t believe, go demolish all swifthouses, see how many people with die under your ‘good’ hand (for the lame excuse of preserve pre-historic shophouses) and the country plummet to the lowest point.
Since with old buildings, new building and not so new buildings already in existence, and swiftlet aleady in existence in town (with or without swiftlet shophouses), people are just capitalized on the stranded assets and made full use of it. Why need to folk out $52 BILLION RINGGIT to put new farms in no where, and risk to loss $42 BILLION if the birds did not co-operate?
Please noted that YB Ong Ka Chuan when he was a Local Housing Minister many times giving green lights to swiftlet farming in commercial shoplots. Besides, many ministers and even PMs support this industry. It is legal mind you. Unless you are talking about swiftlet in residential houses or flats, that’s illegal.
Please get your facts right and don’t put baseless accusation on this new cottage industry.
The only problem that we agree is noise problem. That too can be solved. External noise only allowed played from 7am-8pm. Noise level is the issue that we need co-operation from the shop owners, and that can be solved, thru associations, town councils, regulation thru 1GP etc. With regulation and lesser redtapes, technical problem can always be solved. Else, no need police summon on the roads anymore.
Sorry for any offence and thank you for the opportunity to voice our view.
dont try to mislead with your propaganda.
nobody is arguing against those swiftlets living naturally in town area.
does the swiftlets make those horrible screeching noises 24 hrs a day? does the swiftlets renovate the houses with ponds and holes etc?
no this are all man-made devices driven by greed and lack of empathy for other neightbours sufferings.
before this they natural cycle of swiftlets staying meant the population stayed under control. but greedy harvesters in the quest for more profit start all manners of tricks to attract the birds, resulting now in certain towns during evening hours you can see birds filing the skies. not a particularly pretty sight if you are not one of those bird nest harvesters.
do you want that happen to georgetown?
Each poster have their valid points but discussed here, it may not be known to the YBs, aduns etc. who will decide on how to implement the 1GP.
Our reps in government have a duty to be fair to everyone.
If your views are not properly expressed, there is no one to blame but yourself when things go against your wishes. Just imagine a free for all swiftlet city of Georgetown. Then Gtown's net income per capita might balloon to Rm20k per month!
With that money even the ugliest can be made pretty!
Delusions aside, there are pros and cons.
good job, penang gov is brainless, why let these "business" pll do such pollution in resident area, poor town planning is their weakness. like in juru, letting housing development surrounding in pig farm/chicken farm is a brainless idea. who suffering next? the people.
Penang gomen brainless? Then the entire Malaysian gomen also brainless lah. Go go demolish and convert all swiftlet shops into your so call heritage buildings. You shall witness for yourself how much GDP gone from the country. Not forgetting, how many tourists swear they will never return to Penang looking at those old dilapidated prehistoric grandfather buildings. Anti swiftlet folks shall claim glory for that. You are the 'brainy' so to speak!
Bobby
I really think that the authority has to do something about it. With no standardization of it , means that chicken/duck/wild bird and etc will be allowed to be breed at home.....
People who earn money from it sure will talk good about it, honestly if breeder were to think like mr WW then its good, but really i cant see anyone else who is thinking like him , they dont even care who is living beside the BH, cleanliness? when some mutated virus attack the people and if expert has proven that its being caused by swiftlet, who is going to be responsible for it? who is going to clean out the mess? how about the damage which is already done to the environment, people? Any free insurance coverage for people who stay near BH? People like us is like guinea pig who live in constant fear of unknown...
Noise pollution is another matter, as being pointed out by ANONY, people who wana breed should only breed at the place THEY SLEEP at, see if they can bear the pollution caused by it?
I really hope that all breeder think like mr WW m damn all those others who dont think about others feeling.
If the bad owner being rob also i think its karma caused by earning/enjoying life on top of others suffering.
West Wing said...
"Email me for what you want to know and I will gladly provide you with all you want to know, the truth and nothing but the truth about the whole issue. "
You know what, Calvin? You may be able to handle the truth. People who live in and around your truth can't stomach it. That's the long and short of it. You want to confront a group of villagers holding pitchfork and torches, by downplaying your Frankenstein monster. Then you need to cover up your truth better and, if possible, put some chocolade and icing on top. But still, I don't see how that can undo the damages your truth has done to the general public.
And if your swiftlets are indeed as benevolent as you claim, then what you perhaps need to do is not to come on here to "enlighten" us on what we are tolerating from bird farmers who cut class and missed your lecture. But instead, you need to go to those school-dodging cretins and give them after school lesson on your version of bird farming.
Sorry to see these swiftlet farms in your area. Glad that we didn't see these in the Damansara housing place.
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