The Sabah state government, Malaysia, has decided to ban swiftlet farming in all urban areas in the state

Swiftlet breeders, eyeing the lucrative edible nests market, have taken over 8.3 per cent of some 3,500 pre-war buildings in George Town, Malaysia.

Sabah To Prepare Guidelines On Proper Swiftlet Farming – The nests are built entirely from threads of the bird’s saliva, and are collected for the famous Chinese delicacy bird’s nest soup.

KOTA KINABALU, April 9 (Bernama) — The Sabah Local Government and Housing Ministry will prepare guidelines for proper swiftlet farming in all of the 24 districts in the state.

Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor said today this was because the state cabinet had decided to ban swiftlet farming in the city and town areas.

“The (state) cabinet has made a decision that rearing of these birds in town areas is no longer allowed.

“We hope the local authorities will inform the farmers not to go ahead with their ventures in the town areas, especially in shops and commercial buildings,” he told reporters after witnessing the swearing-in of the new board members of the Sabah Housing and Town Development Authority here.

State Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai announced the ban yesterday stating the reasons that the farming activities posed health and environmental hazards as well as public nuisance.

The bird’s nests are “believed” to keep you young, give you clear skin, and a whole host of promises. A lot depends on how the nests are treated as often they are treated with chemicals “believed” (by some) to cause cancer. To give credit, Malaysian bird nests are more sought after because up to now, they apparently use less chemicals in the cleaning treatment than their Indonesian competitors.

See more about Swiftlet farming in Malaysia here.

George Town going to the birds here.