Yee (second left) presenting an Acer Iconia to Irene Kong.
KOTA KINABALU: The State Government will not allow bird’s nest operations in the city because of hygiene issues.
“Don’t tell me it doesn’t cause disease because I am a doctor and I know what I am talking about,” said Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai when asked to comment on a recent report in which the chairman of the Working Group on Edible Bird’s Nest Swiftlet Ranching from the Department of Veterinary Service, Dr Fadzilah A’ini binti Abdul Kadir, claimed that bird’s nest ranching was allowed in towns and cities in Peninsular Malaysia and that the swiftlets which produced the bird’s nests were not contaminated with bird flu as they do not mix with other species of birds.
“The person making the statement better stop taking nonsense. As far as we in Sabah are concerned, we will not accept. If she thinks there is nothing wrong with having bird’s nests in the city, I will set up the bird’s nest operations next to her house, and ask her to tell me if it is healthy and hygienic for me to do that. If she says it is alright, then I will set it up (in the city). We cannot have bird’s nest in the city because of hygiene.
“And if you say it is conducive for tourism, this person better go back to school and learn about hygiene, tourism and how to manage a city,” he said.
He added that as far as the state was concerned, it was agreed that bird’s nests was an industry that should be encouraged because it generates revenue for the state, but it has to be conducted in a manner that is conducive and acceptable to the people.
“I know no one wants a bird’s nest operation next to his or her house,” he said.
Yee also said that anyone saying otherwise was just talking nonsense, as far as he was concerned.
“The unacceptability of having bird’s nests in town is a statement of truth,” he stated.
He then said that the state has got its own rights and that it doesn’t have to conform to the cultures, mindset, mentality and philosophy of the rest of the world, and West Malaysia.
“Sabah is Sabah. We know what the people want, the interest of the people. We will stick to that. As far as West Malaysia is concerned, they can do what they want,” he said.
Prior to the interview, Yee presented prizes to the lucky draw winners in the recent ICT Fiesta 2012.