GEORGE TOWN: Dozens of swiftlet houses here have been closed down over the past two years.
State exco member Chow Kon Yeow said they were closed down under the phasing out of such premises in the city by the Penang Municipal Council.
He said the council would continue to ensure that swiftlet farms were relocated to permissible zones in agricultural areas with the exception of padi farming areas.
He was responding to a claim by the Penang Citizens’ Awareness Chant Group (Chant) that the state government was not clearing swiftlet houses in the inner city here.
In its email sent to The Star yesterday, Chant raised concerns on the bird flu outbreak in China.
“With the detection of bird flu in China again, we think the people of Penang need to be warned about the possible risk. The Penang government is not clearing out swiftlet houses in inner George Town. Are they waiting for an outbreak?” Chant said in the email.
