Sibu Municipal Council bans swiftlet farming in residential areas

SIBU: The Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) has now banned any form of swiftlet farming in residential areas here.

Chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King said on Tuesday, Jan 25 that it was finalising procedures to allow action to be taken against operators who continued to do so.

"We recently held a dialogue with the industry players on the nuisance caused," he said in his address before the monthly full-council meeting.

"We want them to respect the neighbourhood," he added.

Tiong said noise generated electronically to attract the birds could be an unbearable nuisance, especially at night and during the early hours of the day.

"In addition, they can cause unnecessary danger to health if not properly managed."

Tiong said the council would not hesitate to dismantle swiftlet "farms" in the residential areas, besides imposing fines on the operators involved. — Bernama