In the heart of George Town, Penang, it's a familiar scene: an elderly man scatters rice near a temple, and within moments, a flurry of pigeons descend.
It may feel harmless, even kind to toss a handful of rice to the pigeons fluttering around heritage buildings in Penang. But for five individuals this year, that simple act of generosity came with a hefty fine.
In early May, The Sun reported that the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) confirmed that five people had been penalized for intentionally leaving out food waste to attract pigeons.
The offence? Violating Section 47(1) of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 — a law that’s now being actively enforced with a RM250 compound per case. Failure to pay could lead to court action, particularly for repeat offenders.
For many, feeding pigeons has been part of the city’s rhythm for decades, especially near temples and older neighborhoods where the elderly still believe it's an act of merit.
But for MBPP, this isn't about crushing tradition, it’s about controlling a population that has become a public health concern.
In fact, pigeon control is just one part of a broader urban cleanup. According to New Straits Times on May 6, MBPP’s Environmental Health Department also successfully removed 36 crow nests and captured over 800 pigeons from known hotspots around the island during April.
The effort, according to MBPP, is part of a long-term strategy to protect residents from the real risks posed by growing bird populations, and it goes beyond just aesthetics.
When Pigeons Turn Problematic
We may see pigeons as harmless city dwellers, even lovable at times, but to environmental health experts, these birds are much more than feathered passersby.
Their droppings, often scattered across public benches, pavements and temple rooftops are a hidden danger.
OvoControl, a company specializing in humane bird management, warns that pigeon waste can carry bacteria that trigger diseases such as histoplasmosis, salmonella, and pigeon ornithosis.
These health threats are often overlooked — until they aren’t.
Beyond health, there’s property damage to consider too: acid-rich droppings can corrode metal and stone, especially in a city like George Town with many historical sites.
Still, enforcement is needed in the short term. MBPP isn’t just waiting for flocks to vanish.
In an interview with The Star (August 2024), Councilor Quah Boon Lim, who was the city council’s environment health sub-committee chairman, revealed that a new type of trap had been introduced – a remotely operated cage fitted with bait.
Measuring just under a meter long, it’s been set up in hotspot areas to quietly capture pigeons without distressing the public.
“The operation is a collaboration between the environmental health department, council enforcement unit and services department,” said Quah.
Signboards, Warnings — but Are People Listening?
With fines in place, traps set, and educational campaigns rolled out — is any of it working?
MBPP told Bernama on May 6 that despite public awareness efforts, many residents continue to ignore posted warnings and feed birds in public areas.
It’s not for lack of signage either. Quah said the city has put up 31 new boards in known pigeon zones, this time with clearer language.
Unlike the older signs that vaguely warned “No feeding of birds or animals,” the updated version names pigeons specifically and even lists the diseases they can carry.
And yet, rice keeps hitting the ground.
Perhaps it’s nostalgia. Perhaps it's a habit.
But more likely, it’s because some people don’t see a bird: they see a ritual, a tradition, a quiet moment passed from one generation to the next.
And that emotional link is not so easily broken by fines and signboards, or even the threat of disease.
Still, it makes me wonder: once the pigeons are caught, where do they actually go?
Doris Tan is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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