QUOTE(tuckfook @ Mar 29 2010, 12:46 PM)
Please note that EBN swiftlets were nesting in coastal Malaysia when these 'Heritage' Buildings were built. Unfortunately no hard evidence is available but from memory of people who observed this phenomenon and stories passed down, we know.
I have seen EBN nesting on the walls of the Standard Chartered bank, Khoo Kongsi and many other buildings around the Penang Weld Quay area when I was younger till perhaps 20 yrs ago when building owners decided that they had to keep these pests away. Khoo Kongsi now resorts to fish nets around the temple.
On the contrary, UNESCO should be informed of this living heritage and if UNESCO accepts this, that will be the end of the anti
swiftlet lobby. Remember,
Heritage listing is not only about buildings. Facts and evidence is of utmost importance, and you find that many of the "Heritage' supporters are extremely well informed, much more so than most
Swiftlet House owners.
Keep the mistakes and weaknesses of our opponents as our secret, only to be used as ammo in the future. Reveal and criticise them and they can make the necessary corrections.
I hope you can all see what I mean. We have in recent weeks exposed to everyone, the inhumane practise of culling, building irregularities, etc. all can be and will be used by our opponents. This is not a closed forum. It will make things even more difficult in the very near future.
Trully agree to what is said above. myself too a born penangite and i don't believe heritage of building is the only thing been considered when UNESCO list Penang as one of the premiere in heritage conservation. There are other things like Chingay Procession, Phor Thor, temples, indian street, people , food ,
swiftlet , monkeys, sandy beaches etc that is hollistically recognized. Otherwise, all those new condos , reclamation land in gurney and coastal road near the penang bridge and shopping mall doesn't reflect anything heritage at all. instead of focusing on the
swiftlet , the writer should shoot himself on the foot for not being able to do more in education the citizen not to throw rubbish into the sea or stop the current land reclamation that destroys the natural habitat and the scenery of the old Penang Bridge which is likely to be gone soon .