SIBU: Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) began their inspection of swiftlet farmhouses in the town area here yesterday together with various government agencies such as the Land and Survey Department, police and local council.

FULL COOPERATION: SFC operations manager Tan Soon Tiong (second right) briefs Wong (left) about the inspection.

The joint operation led by SFC started at about 9.30am.

“The scope of our operations today includes checking, recording, gathering of evidence and removal of sound system (if any),” said an SFC officer.

“The operators here are giving us their fullest cooperation,” he said adding that about 50 shop houses and residential properties in the town area were involved in swiftlet farming.

The operation saw samples of bird’s nests and droppings being removed from the premises.

However, no sound system was found during the operations.

According to the officer, the sound systems had already been removed from the buildings that they had inspected.

“This is a good sign indicating the responsiveness and willingness of the operators to cooperate with the authorities,” he said.

The officer added the team would cover the rest of the swiftlet farmhouses in the town area over the next few days.

He said inspections had already been carried out in Kuching, Kota Samarahan, Bintulu, Tatau, Miri, Lawas, Limbang, Tanjung Manis, Belawai, Sarikei and Bintangor.

Mukah and Matu/Daro will be next on the list.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Birdnest’s Suppliers Association (SBSA) pro tem secretary Colin Wong said members are giving their fullest cooperation to the authorities.

“We have informed all our members to work closely with the authorities to ensure everything goes smoothly,” said Wong.

However, he said they were uncertain about the next course of action.

“We have asked SFC but they said they will submit the report to Kuching,” he said.