Minute of the Joint Meeting Held on 01St November 2012, Thursday at 10.00Am at the Nok

MINUTE OF THE JOINT MEETING HELD ON 01ST NOVEMBER 2012, THURSDAY AT 10.00AM AT THE NOK THAI RESTAURANT, DAMAI PLAZA.

1. CALL TO ORDER

The president, called the meeting to order at 10.30am and welcome all members present to attend the joint meeting together with the representatives from Tawau, Kudat and Sandakan.

2. MEMBERS PRESENT

There were a total of 12 members present at the meeting as below:- 1. President George Ng Aun Heng 2. Vice President Chee Man Foh 3. Secretary Ting Khai Ong 4. Assistant Secretary Shirley Abin 5. Treasurer Tan Haw Bin 6. Committee Kalvin Liaw 7. Committee Wong Nyuk Leong @ Lifred Taliban 8. Committee Tan Seng Geok 9. Committee Chong Siew Len @ Jannet Chong Lee Yung 10. Committee Chung Sin Chung @ Teo Sin Chung 11. Advisor Datuk Yap Pak Leong

The invitees’ representatives from Kudat, Tawau and Sandakan as below:- 1. Sandakan Swiftlet House Yap Chen Guan President 2. Sandakan Secretary Chan Jit Yin 3. Sandakan Committebe Lee Boh Ching 4. Sandakan Committee Fong Hing Choi 5. Sabah Birdnest Association Datu Mohd. Faisal Datu Bachtiyal President (Sandakan) 6. Sabah Swiftlet Farm >> Datu Haji Arshad Association (Sandakan) >> Shamsudin 7. Tawau Swiftlet House Datuk Kour Nam Ngum President

The following members are absent with apology received:- 1. Vice President Alijus Sipil 2. Committee Dr. Lee Lai Ping 3. Committee Frankie Chung Nyuk Lin 4. Committee Peter Pang Yin Fung

5. Committee Khoo Chin Hung 6. Committee Choo Sun Hong 7. Committee Yau Wing Kin 8. Committee Voon Shen Shin 9. Committee Lim Ken Min

3. WELCOMING SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT

President welcome the members present especially the invitees and informed that the joint meeting is about to gather information and exchange idea regarding the guidelines issues, on how to develop or expand the Sabah Swiftlet industry and also to form a board for this Swiftlet House and Bird Nest industry in Sabah.

4. GUIDELINES ON SWIFTLETS ISSUES

Tawau Swiftlets Association Protem Chairman Datuk Kour Nam Ngum informed the members and the invitees that the 15 Guidelines imposed by Sabah Government is actually not a big issue but what most important to look into the particular guideline (1. The swiftlet houses must not be built in central cities, municipalities or towns, including all housing areas, places frequented by the public, schools, clinics, houses of worship, water-catchment areas or any public places). Mr. Yap Chen Guan, Sandakan Switlets House President voiced out that the said Guidelines was not fair for those Swiftlet Houses that were built long before and the said guidelines approved by Government. Mr. Tan Haw Bin also told the members that the compliance of those guidelines and the closing of all swiftlet houses in central cities, municipalities or towns will be given a period of 24 months starting from Jan 1, 2013, it means that the relevant authorities will not take any action against the Swiftlet houses within the grace period within the year 2013.

5. MATTERS ARISING

Mr. Chan Jit Yin, Sandakan Secretary tells the members that they facing a problem to gather all the birdnest entrepreneurs Association to join the Swiftlet House in Sandakan. Datu Mohd Faisal, Developers of Swiftlet Houses in Sandakan also talked about Birdnest industry in Sabah is not running smoothly if compare with Peninsular Malaysia.

6. FORMING A BOARD Datuk Kour told the members that Swifin had discussed about forming a Board during the Committee meeting held on 19th October 2012 at the Silk Garden Sutera Pasific Hotel. He also informed that Mr. Lifred Wong will explain or brief us more details in forming a Board as follows:-

Mr. Lifred Wong greeted the members and thanked especially the invitees for coming to the meeting before he continues to brief his searching about the formation of a board. He also mentioned that he had made a calls with the Wild Life Department Director, Datuk Laurentius Ambu for discussion but unfortunately Datuk were unable to meet him because he was in Singapore. Mr. Lifred informed the members and the invitees that in forming a board we needs to be proactive and also better knowledge or information about this Swiftlets and Bird’s Nest industry. He also added that we need approval granted by the relevant authorities or Ministry and finally pass it to the cabinet on “Why we need to perform a board for Swiftlets Industry?” All the members agreed with the idea on forming a Board in order to protect the Bird Nests Industry and agreed with the proposed naming of the Board to be formed later as “Sabah Swiftlet House and Bird Nest Industry Board”.

7. ANY OTHER BUSSINESS

Datuk Kour Nam Ngum also discussed on the issue regarding recently China Government disallowed the birdnest to be exported to China, and hope our Government could do something to help the birdnest industry as soon as possible.

8. ADJOURMENT

There being no other business, the President called the meeting to adjourn at 2.00pm with thanks to all members and the invitees.

Record By, Confirmed By,

Shirley Abin George Ng Aun Heng Ass Secretary President