The Shah Alam City Council is looking for the owner of several “swiftlet hotels” in Sungai Buloh.

 Council officials visited the site where six shophouses have been converted to lure swiftlets to nest in them.

The officials also noted the noise pollution from constant chirping blaring from loudspeakers.

“The operations are illegal and we are in the midst of tracing the operator.

“Once that is established, we will be able to charge him with offences like causing nuisance and illegally operating a business,” said the official.

The Malay Mail reported yesterday that the constant chirping of swiftlets was driving residents in Bandar Rahman Putra up the wall.

At least six empty shoplots in Jalan BRP 6/11 and Jalan BRP 6/9 were converted into swiftlet hotels for the purpose of harvesting bird’s nest.

The shoplot owners broadcast a tape of the chirps throughout the day to lure the birds to nest in the “hotels”.

And now, with the bird flu threat, the residents want a stop to both the noise and trade itself. They said the noise pollution affected their concentration when they work.

Subsequently, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) had urged the local authorities to stop issuing licences for the breeding of swifts in the country as swiftlets should be allowed to breed naturally.

Its president, S.M. Idris, said those without licences should be shut down and those operating legally should not be allowed to continue either.

Health Ministry disease control director Dr Ramlee Rahmat said it becomes their concern when people come into contact with birds or poultry reared.

“Our focus among others will be on cleanliness, hygiene and environment,” Dr Ramlee said.