KUCHING: State Secretary Datuk Seri Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki has pledged to coordinate with the relevant agencies to help bird’s nest traders and unlicensed operators to complete the application process, in order to ensure that all bird’s nests are sold in compliance with the guidelines.
According to Dudong assemblyman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, he had led a delegation to meet the State Secretary on June 6, regarding the RM3 million bird’s nests seized by Sarawak Forest Corporation enforcement officers in Sibu last month.
He said some initial consensus on how to move forward was reached during the discussion, including relooking and reviewing the application processes to simplify and streamline them, as well as shortening the time for approval.
Tiong, who is also Bintulu Member of Parliament, said feedback and complaints from the swiftlet nest/house operators were all centred on the lengthy process to obtain permits for the houses, which had resulted in many such businesses in Sarawak to operate without permits.
“So, we need the authorities to simplify the process as time is money for business. In addition, this is crucial (speed up the process) to protect the rights and interests of the traders as well as for the safety of the consumers.
“Once the traders are made legitimate, we expect that similar unpleasant incidents that saw RM3 million in supplies being seized in Sibu recently, can be prevented to stop more unnecessary business losses,” he said in a statement yesterday.
“At the same time we will also discuss how to settle the case of the confiscated bird’s nests with the Attorney General Chambers and other enforcement agencies involved,” he said.
Tiong said the storage and care of seized bird’s nest supplies need to be handled delicately to avoid more losses; speeding up the return application procedures would avoid more unpleasant developments.
He also warned that authorities must not shirk their responsibility in the matter if the seized supplies are lost due to procedural delays; where these traders would bear an even heavier loss.
“Let us all work together for a win-win solution to this thorny issue, especially in returning the seized items.
“The State Secretary will be reporting the resolution of this matter to the Premier (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg).
Tiong also gave assurance to monitor this matter until it was successfully resolved and hoped that such issues would not be repeated in the future.
