Article: Housing for the birds

Tuesday August 4, 2009

By RASLAN BAHAROM

A single storey low-cost unit turned into triple storey swift hotel is causing anxiety among residents in Kuala Sepetang.

A FISHMONGER and his 80-year-old father have moved out of their home following the arrival of swiftlets which have built their nests next to their low-cost house in Kuala Sepetang, Perak.

Beh Ah Keong (pic) and his father are believed to be the first residents in Malaysia to have moved out of their house due to swiflet problem.

A single storey low-cost unit turned into triple storey swift hotel is causing anxiety among residents in Kuala Sepetang.

Perak has been listed as having the biggest production of swiftlet nest.

According to Beh, he decided to move out when large cracks appeared on the walls and floors of his house in Aulong after a neighbouring unit was turned into a three-storey house for swiftlet nest farming.

"When it rains, water seeps through the cracks and floods my house. We cannot open the doors and windows for fear that the swiftlets will fly inside our home," claimed Beh, 46.

He also alleged that fellow tenants in the low-cost housing scheme, which numbered about 55 units, were also facing noise pollution because of the swiftlets.

Commenting on the matter, Taiping Municipal Council president Omor Saad said the setting up of swiflet nests was prohibited in public housing schemes.

"My officers will investigate the matter,'' he said.

The council may need a court decree to demolish the premises housing the swiftlets if the owner or operator was found to have violated the local building by-laws, he said.

In the meantime, Beh and his father are staying with friends and relatives while waiting for the outcome of the investigation.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Metro: North 4 August 2009