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CITY Hall has put an end to a long standing case about a swiftlet farming being carried out illegally by a commercial building owner in Sedco Industrial Estate in Kolombong, recently.

The latter was asked to verify the claims by a neighbour, who got fed up with the incessant noises from the building concerned which allegedly persisted for more than a year ago.

 “The repetitive chirping noises which aggravates by their audio music are driving us up the wall,” stressed ERNEST, who is concerned about the health hazard the droppings posed to people. A follow up check at the premises concerned on June 21, and a brief talk on the telephone with the building owner were fruitful as it put the case to rest.

 “We were told by him that there is no more such activity being carried out there for quite a long time already.

“All the equipment for such purpose had been removed from the premises after he was warned by us not to do that there,” a City Hall spokeswoman told Hotline on June 22. She said there was no music being heard coming from atop the building during the inspection.

“But we noticed the windows on that floor was open but we were unable to go inside because the owner was not present and the main door was locked.

“Moreover, it is practical to let the windows open at all time so that sunlight can brighten the spaces in there because swiftlets will not nest in well-lit areas.

“As such type of bird can move around in darkness using echolocation,” she said, adding that the owner is currently at Keningau and is unable to be present at the location due to the current Movement Control Order (MCO).

Apart from that, she said a check with the neighbours that such farming had stopped a long time ago.

“We will have a look of that place with the owner when he is available later,” she added. The complainant said they managed to pinpoint the source of the irritating noises were coming from after a while. “We had difficulty locating its source at first but we managed to identify it later,” he said, who added that the chirping noises from the pre-recorded audio was played from morning until dusk. He stressed that such farming is not suitable to be done in any industrial estate due to the dangerous effects it pose to people. “Swiftlets farming is supposed to be carried out at agriculture’s zoned land and not in any light industry area,” he added.

He also doubted whether the owner had obtained the necessary licences or permits from the local government agencies. “He or she must also ensure the problems that can adversely affect the public health such as foul odour, breeding of mosquitoes, flies and the cleanliness of the area surrounding the buildings are under control,” he added.