TAWAU: The Tawau Municipal Council will take stern action against those who farm bird’s nests in urban, commercial or residential premises in the district, said its president, Datuk Ismail Mayakob, yesterday.
Ismail said notices had been issued to nine swiftlet farming operators here in line with the guidelines set by the Local Government and Housing Ministry.
“The State Government through the Wildlife Department has adopted a set of guidelines to regulate swiftlet farming industry.
“The operators could apply for the license from the Sabah Wildlife Department while the permit could be obtained from the municipal council,” Ismail told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Therefore, he advised the swiftlet farming operators to refer to the guidelines properly and get in touch with the Wildlife Department for more information on licensing and related matters.
Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor had said that swiftlet farming or bird’s nest houses are not allowed in urban, commercial or residential areas.
He said the State Government through the Wildlife Department had adopted a set of guidelines to regulate swiftlet farming industry.
Kalabakan member of parliament Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh had earlier requested for clarification on the status of a number of premises that were being used for bird’s nests activities in Tawau.
According to Hajiji, Section 6.1 of the Guidelines stated that swiftlet farming is not allowed in urban centres, municipalities and towns, including all residential areas and resorts, places frequented by the public, schools, clinics, places of worship and reservoirs.
He said Section 6.3 of the guidelines stated that bird nests’ houses can only be built on agricultural land with titles.