MIRI: The state government will look into a win-win solution to address issues on the issuance of permits to those who keep protected bird species as pets.
In disclosing this during a bird singing competition at Kampung Piasau Utara here yesterday, Tourism, Arts and Culture Assistant Minister Datuk Sebastian Ting assured that he would bring up the matter to the relevant ministry.
Ting was responding to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) letter submitted to him earlier by statewide bird lovers, requesting for a solution to address the issues as some of them were fined and their birds were seized because they have no permit to keep the protected birds.
The memorandum was presented by Kelab Pencinta Burung Kicau Miri chairman Mohd Azahar Bujang.
Meanwhile, the competition’s organising chairman Erwin Geoffry said, “These issues arise although most of the bird lovers have submitted their applications for the permit, but have yet to receive any approval or response from the relevant authorities.
“They have been waiting for a long time for the permit and when the enforcement operations were carried out, their pets were seized, and this is unfair to us,” he said.
Also present at the event was mayor Adam Yii.
Some 50 participants from throughout Sarawak displayed nearly 400 protected species of birds for the contest.
