Family head, Kupa Kanyan, 89, who has been operating in Gua Sarang Burung in Sungai Bekuyat Ulu, Sungai Kakus, in Tatau district since before independence, said he was often intimidated by up to 80 thugs in the struggle to grab a piece of the bird's nest area.

Disgusted with the threats since 1995, Kupa who is a Punan tribal chief said he wrote to Abdullah, who is also internal Security Minister, early this year, asking him to intervene to solve the problem.

Showing Bernama copies of 12 reports have lodged at Tatau police station and another two filed here from 1996 to last month, Kupa said immediate action must be taken to avoid any untoward incidents.

"We, as the holders of licence issued by the Sarawak Forestry Department, are not able to set foot at the bird's nest cave area.  The activity has been taken over by the thugs," he said, showing the licence he renewed every year.

Kupa said some of his family members and workers were assaulted by the gang which did not have a licence to gather bird's nests showing pictures of his injured workers.

"The thugs are very dangerous.  The always threaten and rob me using shotgun, spear, parang and wood," he said.

Normally, when the bird's nest gathering season starts in May and December, a gatherer will be able to collect  between 40kg and 50kg and sell them at as high as RM1,000 per kg as they were popular among the Chinese community.

Sugai Kakau is among the popular sites for bird's nest gath