High incidence of dengue cases alarms SMC chairman

SIBU: Almost 40 per cent of dengue cases in Sibu were reported to be in areas under the jurisdiction of Sibu Municipal Council (SMC).

The figure has caused SMC chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King great concern prompting him to call on the residents in the area to keep their house compounds clean.

“There had been 50 cases. The critical zones encompass areas designated as Zones 5, 7 and 14.”

“Our health inspectors are carrying out regular surveillance in our effort to combat aedes mosquitoes,” he said in his Chairman’s Communication which was read out by his deputy, Rogayah Jamain during a full council meeting yesterday.

Tiong urged the public to heed the call of Health Department to scan their immediate surroundings and destroy potential aedes mosquito breeding grounds.

“The potential breeding grounds include pots, empty vessels, plastic sheets, dry leaves and so on,” he said.

On another matter, Tiong said he expected the relevant authorities to tackle the issue of squatters on a land in Seng Ling Road here.

He noted that these squatters were found with around 10 children who scavenge for recyclable items at SMC landfill there.

“We can’t bear to see people in such a sorry state,” Tiong said, adding that they deserved a better quality of life.