GEORGE TOWN: The National Council for Local Government is behind the ban on swiftlet farming in heritage areas and not the state government, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
He accused critics of “having ulterior motives” and “politicising the matter” for the Sarawak election
“If they have the courage to protest sincerely and are not playing political games, they should protest to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and not direct these (protests) to the state government,” he said.
Lim claimed that swiftlet farm- ing had become a hot issue as bird’s nest collection was popular in Sarawak.
“Bird house operations are big in Sarawak and we (Pakatan Rakyat) are getting attacked on this issue,” he said.
In early September last year, Muhyiddin had announced that swiftlet farming would be prohibited in the Penang and Malacca heritage enclaves, with a three- year grace period given to existing operators.
Meanwhile, Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng has renewed a challenge to the state government for an open debate over bird nests farming in the George Town heritage enclave.
Tan who quit PKR last year and is now a Kita member, said he issued a similar challenged to Local Government and Traffic Management committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow, state Agriculture, Rural Development and Flood Mitigation committee chairman Law Choo Kiang and state Domestic Trade, Consumer and Religious Affairs committee chairman Abdul Malik Abul Kassim two years ago but they had kept mum.
Last week, some 50 swiftlet farm operators held banners and shouted slogans at Komtar Walk here against the ongoing move to get them out of George Town.
When contacted, Chow and Abdul Malik declined to debate with Tan.
Abdul Malik urged Tan to “open his mouth” at the Dewan Rakyat.
Law could not be reached for comments.
In another newspaper:
KUCHING: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has been criticised for not handling the swiftlet farming issue in Penang well.
Deputy Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Chua Tee Yong said Lim instead chose to push the blame to the Federal Govern-ment.
“What I need to stress is Guan Eng is a representative in the National Council for Local Government and he has the right to be heard and voice concerns to defend the people of Penang if he feels the decision made is incorrect.
“As such, I hope he does not continue to mislead the people or push the blame to the Federal Government,” he said here yesterday.
Chua also requested to see the minutes of the council's meeting on how the decision to ban swiftlet farming at heritage sites in Penang and Malacca was made.
He wanted to find out if Lim had agreed with the measures to be taken.
“I want to know if he con- curred with the measures taken by the council.
“This is because I never knew the Chief Minister of Penang to be an obedient person (leaving) the council to discuss and he just agreeing (to it),” he said.
Chua said what had been agreed in the council was a collective decision.
Based on this, Chua added that it was untrue for Lim to solely say it was a directive from the Federal Government.
In addition, Chua wanted to know what steps the Penang Government had taken to engage with the swiftlet operators.
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