Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) has intensified monitoring, maintenance and enforcement to tackle clogged drains and rodent infestations at commercial hubs in the city.
In a statement to StarMetro, MBPJ said its various departments, including health, environment and solid waste management, were stepping up periodic monitoring in high-density areas.
Immediate cleaning and enforcement, it said, were also being carried out based on public complaints and field inspections.
“Based on our latest monitoring, drain cleaning in hotspot areas such as SS2 were carried out by KDEB Waste Management’s Petaling Jaya branch using the jetter method.
“Generally, cleaning works follow standard operating procedures (SOPs), which state twice a week cleaning in commercial areas and twice a month in residential areas.
“However, there are constraints in certain locations where drain structures have been permanently covered by premises owners, preventing thorough cleaning,” it added.
The city council’s statement follows StarMetro’s April 14 article titled “Drains choked with grime, rodents,” which highlighted filthy drains and foul odours marring the reputation of established eatery spots in Selangor.
To ensure more effective coverage in high-risk areas such as SS2, MBPJ said KDEB appointed two subcontractors for focused and consistent cleaning.
Enforcement data from January to March this year showed that MBPJ inspected 161 food premises, issued 251 compounds and ordered 43 premises to close because of various hygiene offences under MBPJ Food Establishment By-Laws 2007.
“In the SS2 area alone, 21 premises were inspected, resulting in three closures and 11 compounds,” said MBPJ.
The offences included failure to maintain grease traps, operating without a licence, lack of typhoid (TY2) vaccinations and misusing back lanes.
Despite continuous enforcement, MBPJ found illegal dumping of oil and food waste in drains remained a recurring issue.
The main contributing factors identified were low compliance levels among operators, particularly in maintaining grease traps and managing food waste.
A lack of awareness and training among food handlers on hygiene and pollution also worsened the situation, said MBPJ.
It also said that some operators continued to flout hygiene guidelines by illegally discharging waste into the drainage system.
Under Act 133 (Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974), only rainwater runoff is permitted into public drains.
“Physical obstructions, such as unauthorised structures and illegal pipe installations, also disrupted water flow and complicated maintenance work.”
From a long-term perspective, MBPJ maintained that the existing drainage functioned well and did not require a comprehensive upgrade.
However, maintenance and repairs would continue based on priority and budget allocations.
MBPJ emphasised that cooperation from all stakeholders was crucial to keeping the city clean and safe.
