I was watching BBC news on ASTRO and the topic covered was Gold Price is going down.
Main reason being The Central Bank In UK was selling their stock.
While about to finish listening a call came him from someone I know very well. Yes my bird nest introducer (My Sifu) whom I met 5 years ago with my wife. He was the first to introduced me to this business and we talk for almost 45 minutes.
We touches on a few matters and of course he was very happy over my blog.
One of the topic of special concern to him is the problem pertaining to Perhilitan. It seem that due to stringent requirement imposed by Perhilitan, the bird nest produced in Malaysia have difficulties in exporting to other countries i.e both raw and processed.
The sad thing is that the rule, where U need to get Perhilitan to issue an official letter plus pay RM100/kilo, was never been gezzated in the Parliment.
Now due to this restriction, many foreign buyers are not able to buy at the market price and bring them to their country for process. The market now is facing a glut and prices are going down fast. Just like those glittering gold.
What is needed now, according to him, is to get more people to make any report that they have faced or bad experiences over bird nest transaction. Good examples :
1) Have you or your bird nest consignment been confiscated by those Airport Guards/Police due to Perhilitan release letter?
2) Have U been asked to make payments to any airport officers due to carrying of bird nest across the border?
3) Have your normal buyer been pushing down their buying price and what reasons are they telling you?
4) What kind of treatment given to you when you apply for the release letter from Perhilitan? Are they cooperative or not very cooperative?
5) Any other events that you encountered which are negative to the business (birdnest)?
If you have any relevant stories with supporting facts, kindly send them to harryswiftlet@yahoo.com
We need to gather all these facts and put a report to the relevant people in the States and Federal.
Hope to receive your kind support to arrest the price dropping issue ....
4 comments:
Harry,
Good call!
Birdhouse owners,
Unite and fight for the good of the industry and the country.
Harry,well done!Never expected so fast u already post up what we discussed and worried.As a matter of fact,I am dead worried as this PERHILITAN's uncalled for measure is not going to be only a temporary issue affecting swiftlet farmers but is dwarfing a very potential foreign revenue earning industry next to palm oil and rubber in Malaysia.
Could one imagine with the recent added uncalled for bureaucracy, red tapes,time consuming procedure
and 'illegitimate'collection of the 'exit' tax at the airports imposed by the Perhilitan,do u think that the foreign buyers would find it convenient to buy from M'sia anymore?
I know of a number of foreign buyers who previously flew in weekly.But now,they sail in by boat only once a month.Therefore,there is already a glut,sharp drop in demand and the pricing is dwindling from 6 months ago's 5 k/kg to less than 4 k now and is still going down.
Since Oct 2007 till todate,I am informed of no less than 10 cases of nest being detained and persons harassed,abused and arrested in our airports by the Perhilitan officers(not custom or police).The amount ranged from 2 ounces to 60kg,80kg and over 100kg.In my hand,I have 3 confirmed cases with all legal papers.
So,I think it is time that we better be united and pool in our grey matters and resources together to figure out how to help and recue the industry and ourselves.Looks like the Perhilitan is the main culprit who is exploiting and vitimising this industry.
We need to collect more info on unexposed or unpublished cases to do the investigation.We also need alot of volunteers esp those with professional background and experiences and those with good 'connection'to the top to share and help in for JUSTICE and RIGHTEOUSNESS.
I strongly feel that certain Perhilitan top people are abusing the system and circumventing the laws with hidden agenda or motive and they are doing it illegitimately and illegally.I think we have a very good case except that it is inevitably an uphill and tedious task for those involved in fighting it and it must be a united effort of many.We really need alot of feedbacks,idea and positive suggestions.Not forgeting,volunteers and man power too.
So,good luck,pal,for the time being.
Dave.07.07.08
Wanted to record this email:
Hi Harry,
salute for your webblog and sharing knowledge with us !
I have a little doubt starting this bird nest (BN) business with the latest rumors that say there is an imbalance of supply and demand.
Currently there is an oversupply of BN and the demand is stagnant. other experienced friend told me that nowadays it is quite difficult to export the goods to China.
I am not quite sure whether it is related to the coming Olympic games. If the price is dropping is it still worth it ? will the people still do the business if the price drops until US$100/kg, for instance.
Thanks for your suggestion.
Andy
Andy,
I doubt that the demand is lesser then the supply.
I have an order is hand for 100kilogram and I am cud not find enought to supply to my buyer.
The problem we now facing is the strick rules imposed by Perhilitan. They are manning the exit points in many parts of Malaysia. Since they started this, in Malaysia, many buyers who used to buy at a fair price, are shying away since all the goods they paid for are being confiscated by those Perhilitan people.
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