KOTA KINABALU: Each rat in town will have a RM2 bounty on their head until July 31, says Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah.
Elaborating on the rat eradication campaign managed by DBKK, he said this is part of a nationwide campaign involving 10 local authorities organised by the Housing and Local Government Ministry, with the state government giving the task to DBKK to represent Sabah.
This campaign aims to eliminate rat infestations, particularly at public markets, and highlight health risks posed by rats in order to achieve a Rodent Index of one or below.
The Rodent Index is a formula used to estimate rodent population, and is typically based on trapping data by measuring the number of rodents caught over a seven-day period using 12 live traps.
The campaign also seeks to improve the efficiency of local authorities in rat control, enhance environmental cleanliness, and foster healthy competition among local councils.
Sabin said this is not the first time it is conducting such an initiative, as 1,299 rats were exterminated in 2023, while 775 were terminated between January and June 2024, while 528 rats were caught in the same period this year.
He said a total of 111 rats were captured from January to June 2024, just at the Kota Kinabalu Central Market alone.
“This year, 187 rats have been caught so far,” he said, adding that this programme is aligned with DBKK’s vision of turning Kota Kinabalu into a liveable, safe, clean and healthy living space for all.
Sabin said it supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the government’s National Healthy Malaysia Agenda as well.
This campaign also promotes smart partnerships between DBKK, the private sector and the community, in line with the Local Agenda 21 Programme.
Among the campaign’s activities are communal clean-ups at the Central Market and the implementation of rat control measures using physical, mechanical and chemical methods, in accordance with rat control guidelines, he explained.
For this programme, the public can look forward to stall cleanliness competitions and a rat catching contest that promises cash rewards.
During the launch of the campaign here on Wednesday, exhibitions and brochures on environmental health were prepared to raise public awareness.
On a related subject, Sabin urged traders to register as Smart City Friends at a designated counter to strengthen cooperation between DBKK and the business community in keeping the Central Market and the city clean.
During the event, Sabin warned of health risks posed by rats, particularly leptospirosis, a bacterial disease transmitted to humans through water or food contaminated with rat urine.
As such, failure to keep these pests in check is not only unpleasant and tarnishes the image of the city, but is an outright threat to public health.
He said to make this work, DBKK cannot act alone and requires the cooperation of all parties, including visitors, while the public must also play their part by disposing waste properly, keep stall areas clean, and report signs of rodent activity to authorities.
