MELAKA: A total of 9,500 premises or 9.7% of the 98,299 premises inspected in Melaka last year were hosts to Aedes mosquito breeding sites, said State Health Director Dr. Ruzita Mustaffa.
She said the inspections, conducted under the Destruction of Disease-Bearing Insects Act (APSPP) 1975 for dengue fever prevention and control, involved 7,756 residential homes and 1,744 business premises.
During the inspections, 964 owners of business premises or residents were issued compound notices totalling RM482,000.
"Of the total, 529 compounds were paid, collecting RM94,270, while 260 cases were registered for court action, and 39 cases were convicted with fines totalling RM11,810,” she told reporters after an operation in conjunction with Chinese New Year at a supermarket in Plaza Malim here on Thursday (Jan 23).
She said that from January 1 to 18 this year, 626 of the 6,157 inspected premises were found to be breeding sites for Aedes mosquitoes.
Dr Ruzita said that during the same period, 91 compound notices amounting to RM45,500 were issued to owners of premises or residents, while 39 compounds totalling RM5,030 had been settled.
In another development, throughout last year, 50 premises, including 42 restaurants, were ordered to close temporarily for various offences under Section 11 of the Food Act 1983.
Dr Ruzita added that a total of 2,013 notices for various offences were issued, along with 1,372 compounds amounting to RM440,550, to the owners or business operators involved.
"Overall, we inspected 6,047 food premises throughout Melaka, and from Jan 1 to 18 this year, 89 premises were inspected, resulting in two being ordered to close temporarily,” she said. - Bernama
