Complain, Complain and More Complains

(Just saw this report in NST)

SWIFTLET breeders are ignoring warnings by authorities to relocate their business to the rural areas. They are persistently setting up the "bird hotels" in crowded urban areas and are ignoring the nuisance they are causing others.


Some breeders have gone to the extent of transforming prime office space into swiftlet hotels.

At the Larkin Perdana Business Centre in Johor Baru, for example, breeders have turned five units in two upscale office blocks into bird hotels. And some 500 neighbouring traders have to contend with the noise of the birds and their droppings.

"The swiftlets make a loud noise whenever they return to their nests," said a trader who declined to be named.

"They also leave unsightly droppings all over the place and this has driven away our customers," he said, naming some restaurants nearby which have been drastically affected by the illegal activity.
The units are believed to have been purchased by two individuals who send workers to feed the birds or harvest their nests on a regular basis.

The nests of the bird are considered a delicacy by Chinese gourmets. Top-grade nests can fetch thousands of ringgit per kilogramme overseas.

Good quality bird's nest can fetch about RM3,000 per kg in the local market. The bird droppings can also be sold as fertilisers.

Mustajab Nirwana Sdn Bhd director Reza Ezani Abdul Jalil, who manages the Larkin Perdana office blocks and a block of apartments, claimed that his hands were tied in the matter.

He has received complaints from both traders and residents of medium-cost apartments nearby but is unable to act against the breeders or remove the swiflets.

"We have no right to take action as the units are privately-owned."

However, he said that they have forwarded the complaints to the respective owners of the units to make them aware of the situation.

Reza Ezani said one of the owners, who operates a swiftlet hotel in a unit on the fourth floor, had made a big hole on the roof as an alternative access route for the birds.

"The Johor Baru City Council has made clear its regulations concerning swiftlet breeding but we have yet to see any action being taken against these individuals," he said.

Reza Ezani added that with the growing population in the Larkin area, the activity could easily spell disaster if the birds were to contract a deadly virus.

Found at: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/Features/2123292/Article/indexF_html