Tan: Councils should have acted long ago

Tan: Councils should have acted long ago
The Star Penang 15/4/2005

THE number of premises involved in the breeding of burung layang-layang (swiflets) would not have mushroomed if the local authorities had controlled such activities four years ago.

Tan Cheng Liang (BN – Jawi) said she had made the proposal for buffer zones to control the number of such premises to the Penang and Seberang Prai municipal councils.

“Why are both councils going around tearing down premises and the extensions now? These people have in-vested between RM60,000 and RM100,000 each,” she told the House.

Tan said there were more than 600 premises involved in the breeding of swiftlets on the island and the mainland.

She suggested that the councils discuss this matter with the Swiftlets-Nesting Premises Owners Association, the state executive councillor in charge and state assemblymen to come up with regulations and proper zoning for the owners.

State Local Government, Traffic Management, Informa-tion and Community Relations Committee chairman Dr Teng Hock Nan said the state was looking into identifying buffer zones on both the island and the mainland.

Earlier, Ng Siew Lai (BN – Bukit Tengah) told the House that there were some 650 such premises in Seberang Prai.

She said the owners were in constant worry as they feared the local authorities would tear down their premises

Lai Chew Hock (BN – Bukit Tambun) urged the authorities not to be hasty in tearing down the buildings.

“States like Perlis and Perak have supported the industry and although the breeding of swiftlets have been going on here for more than 10 years, the state has yet to come up with regulations,'' he said.