Loading ...SWIFTLET farm operators in Perak should abide by the legislation and guidelines set by the state government or be prepared to face the consequences.
Perak Information, Rural Development, Poverty Eradication and Plantation Committee chairman Datuk Saarani Mohamad said strict compliance was necessary to ensure the industry could flourish without disturbing the environment and the harmony of the people.
Saarani said the reluctance of the operators to comply with the regulations would only create a negative impact on the development of the industry.
He said noisy commercial swiftlet farms located close to homes was the most common complaint received from the public.
“Operators should be mindful that recorded bird calls used to attract swiftlets would only be allowed to be played from 7am to 10am and from 5pm to 8pm.
“The speakers should be facing 45 degrees upwards and the volume must be less than 40 decibels.
“Apart from that, swiftlet houses must be located at least 100m from any urban settlement,” he said after opening the Good Swiftlet Husbandry Practice course at the National Agribusiness Terminal in Gopeng recently.
Also present was state Veterinary Services Department director Datuk Dr Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam.
Saarani said the public could lodge complaints with their respective local authorities against any operator who did not comply with the industry’s rules and guidelines.
He said that under a new regulation introduced early this year by the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry, errant operators could be compounded while repeat offenders risked having their operating licence revoked.
He added that licence of 130 errant operators in the state had been suspended since last year.
“According to statistics from the local authorities, there are 1,991 swiftlet farm operators in the state involving 3,245 premises.
“Of the total, 85% of the premises are located in urban areas while the balance 15% are in rural and suburban areas,” said Saarani.
He said Manjung, Hilir Perak, Kerian, Larut Matang and Selama were the districts that had a high distribution of swiftlet farms.
He said the swiftlet industry in the state generated about RM150mil annually.
Meanwhile, Dr Quaza said Perak was among several states, namely Johor, Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah and the Federal Territory of Labuan, that had adopted the new guidelines to regulate this multibillion-ringgit industry.
He said that under the new guidelines, swiftlet farm operators who wanted to apply for a licence or renewing their existing licence must show the attendance certificate as proof that they had attended the course.
A total of 350 swiftlet farm operators from all over Perak attended the one-day course.
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