City council blamed for dengue

KUALA LUMPUR: Fear permeates Pantai Dalam, a dengue hotspot, and the residents do all they can, but they are still not proactive in keeping their surroundings mosquito-free.

Adam Malik Habi Muhammad (pic), 46, blames the city council for not being diligent in its duties.

Adam, who has stayed at Projek Perumahan Rakyat Ria, a low-cost flat, for the past eight years, said rubbish at every floor remained uncollected for weeks.

“Just this month, seven people in our flats were infected. I have two children and I don’t want them to come down with dengue,” he said.

A check by The Star showed that the flats were filled with rubbish, with water accumulating near dump sites and below staircases.

Several pipes were found to be broken and spewing water, creating pools that can be potential breeding grounds for the deadly mosquitoes.

When asked how he felt about the rise in dengue cases, resident Syabidin Mat Sirat, 49, replied: “Biasalah (It’s normal).”

He attributed the rise in cases to the ponds found across the flats.

“Even so, I make it a habit to ensure none of the pipes in my house on the 11th floor leaks.”

Syabidin said he had to keep his bathtub filled with water because the area was prone to water cuts.

“We only have to use (anti-larvae) powder to stop the mosquitoes from breeding,” he said.

Sundry shop operator Nor Akmal Marjuki, 42, said the local authorities conducted at least two fogging a week in the area.

“In the past two months, we also had officials visiting our homes and teaching us how to prevent ­dengue,” said Nor Akmal.

She pointed out that the residents had three gotong-royong sessions this year, effectively cleaning up the whole area.

“As residents, we need to give as much cooperation as we can.”