Swiftlets part of inner city’s heritage, say breeders
GEORGE TOWN: Swiftlets have been part of inner George Town even before the area was granted Unesco World Heritage status, according to Association of Swiftlet Nest Industry (ASNI) president Carole Loh.
“These birds are Penang’s ‘living heritage’, and the fact that George Town was granted the status despite their existence means they have no impact on Unesco’s decision,
“It is not fair for the state government to force the breeders to move when they were permitted to operate under the 2005 guidelines for the Application of Licence for Birds Nest Industry, Penang,” she said yesterday.
Loh was commenting on Friday’s report stating that the one-year extension given to swiftlet breeders in Penang to continue their operation until next December would jeopardise George Town’s heritage status.
Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) president Khoo Salma Nasution had said that the state government’s decision to extend the moratorium on the breeders would be a breach of Unesco’s heritage management guidelines.
However, Loh explained that it was a misconception that swiftlets’ droppings would destroy the facade of heritage buildings as they only defecated inside the bird houses.