Mr. Ong emailed the following information to: NoSwiftletHousesInGeorgeTown@gmail.com
Thank you for setting up this blog! There are a lot of us in George Town who feel helpless in stopping these illegal operations near our homes and businesses.
I did some research on the internet and actually went to the Crystal Swiftlets website. This company is in the business of helping people set up swiftlet farms in Penang. On the website, there is an article posted which states the following:
Throughout Malaysia, there is an estimated 30,000+ shop houses and commercial premises that have been converted into swiftlet farms in order to harvest edible birds nest from these swiftlets as of June 2005. Georgetown - 400+ shop houses converted into swiftlet farms (Source: the Malaysian Swiftlet Farmers Association, June 05 Newsletter).
If there were 400+ in George Town five years ago, I can't imagine how many there are now!
The website also has a forum where swiftlet farmers can share and learn from each other. Here are some of the posts I found:
1. A member of the forum calling himself ‘steve’, posted an entry on November 6, 2009, responding to a question about what insects to feed the swiftlets. He stated, “many experts believe that swiftlets can eat the flies in BH (birdhouse). i heard experienced ppl said, build water feature inside BH to breed mosquito.”
2. A member calling himself ‘passion’, posted an entry on October 20, 2009, responding to a question about starting a swiftlet farm in a shophouse. He stated, “well, don't worry keep doing it. currently the whole malaysia have more than 150,000 BH and 80% at least converted from shoplot. i don't think they dare to demolish all of them. they only can stop making new bird farm in town.”
3. On the same day, the member ‘passion’, posted an entry responding to a question about obtaining the license and permits to operate a legal swiftlet farm in a shophouse. He stated, “basically now government had stop issuing license for BH concerted from shoplot. Unless u did it on agri land. U need to reg company and apply license in local authority (majlis perbandaran). if u wait until the approval for converting shoplot to BH, i think is a waste of time. Just do it or buy a ready one.”
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No to swiftlet houses in George Town
Facebook Cause
iGeorgeTown has setup a Facebook Cause called "Why George Town, Penang needs your attention". The swiftlet issue has been chosen as the first topic for discussion. Please visit the site and show your support by joining as a member and participating in the discussion.
Our mission:
1. To educate the public about the dangers of swiftlet houses in urban and residential areas.
2. To provide steps the public can take if a swiftlet house is operating near to their family in an urban or residential area.
3. To create a record of every swiftlet house currently operating in George Town.
4. To encourage the public to lobby for the ban of swiftlet houses in George Town, so they are moved to agricultural areas where it can benefit the rural communities of Malaysia.
2. To provide steps the public can take if a swiftlet house is operating near to their family in an urban or residential area.
3. To create a record of every swiftlet house currently operating in George Town.
4. To encourage the public to lobby for the ban of swiftlet houses in George Town, so they are moved to agricultural areas where it can benefit the rural communities of Malaysia.