A TOTAL of 101 rats are caught in two weeks of a rat-catching campaign at Pasar Pekan Ampang in Pekan Ampang, Selangor.
The campaign is part of Ampang Jaya Municipal Council’s (MPAJ) initiative to curb rodent infestations and improve public hygiene.
The campaign known as “Kempen Basmi Tikus MPAJ” rewarded participants RM3 per rat, with RM303 in cash incentives distributed to the public.
Following the success of the programme in Pekan Ampang, MPAJ is now expanding the effort to other high-traffic areas, including Ampang Point and Pandan Jaya.
MPAJ deputy president Hasrolnizam Shaari said the local council was stepping up efforts to address vermin issues across its jurisdiction.
“We want to take proactive action and prioritise cleanliness in all areas under MPAJ.
“The campaign at Pasar Pekan Ampang has concluded, and now we are moving to other areas such as around Ampang Point and Pandan Jaya,” he said, adding that MPAJ received encouraging public cooperation during the campaign period in Pekan Ampang.
Hasrolnizam said MPAJ had previously conducted targeted operations against mosquitoes and dengue vectors.
“The programme is part of a broader, long-term strategy by MPAJ to improve public hygiene and tackle urban pest clusters, including rodents and mosquitoes,” he said.
“We are consistently carrying out other environmental health initiatives including oil collection campaigns, recycling of solid waste and those targeting ikan bandaraya (invasive fish species).
“Now, we are zooming in on clusters of pests, including rats.”
Beyond the cash incentive, MPAJ is also implementing other measures to combat the problem.
According to Hasrolnizam, these include the distribution of rat poison at hawker centres and public hotspots, particularly in locations with high foot traffic and waste generation.
He said MPAJ was also carrying out “rodent index surveys” at public markets and food courts under its jurisdiction.
“These studies are carried out based on national guidelines issued by Housing and Local Government Ministry to assess infestation levels and measure the effectiveness of control efforts,” said Hasrolnizam.
A separate operation involving sealing rat holes and installing traps was carried out at the MPAJ food court in Taman Melawati to control the rat population. ― By SHALINI RAVINDRAN
