AMPANG Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) is offering RM3 for every live rat caught at Flat Pandan Jaya and its vicinity until July 23.
MPAJ secretary Julaihah Jamaludin said the flats and its surrounding areas had rat infestation problems.
“We want the flats’ residents to help us catch the rodents.
“MPAJ officers will come to the area to collect the rats on June 11, June 23, July 9 and July 23.
“We are offering RM3 for each rat caught and brought to us on these dates,” she said at the launch of the Kempen Basmi Tikus at the Pandan Jaya field.
Rat traps were also distributed at the launch.
Also present were Housing and Local Government Ministry environmental health consulting division director Ooi Poh Keong, MPAJ Health and Environment director Ghazali Abd Wahab and councillor Thanabal Krishnan.
Ooi said rats could cause economic losses and spread diseases that could be fatal, especially leptospirosis which is transmitted through rat urine.
“Keeping the environment clean will help in the government’s effort to ensure the people are healthy and free from infectious diseases,” he said.
Julaihah said RM8,000 had been allocated for the campaign and the public could also inform the local council of any rat-infested area so pest control measures could be initiated.
Although no leptospirosis cases were reported in Ampang Jaya, she said there were 12 rat-related complaints up to May 16.
MPAJ had also conducted 38 operations to control the rat population in public areas, commercial centres, hawker centres and its food courts. — By VIJENTHI NAIR
