MCC receives many complaints of rats at open eateries

MIRI: Miri City Council ( MCC) has received increasing number of public complaints of late on rats at the council’s markets and open eateries in the city.

Its deputy mayor Julaihi Mohamad said the council placed serious concern on this matter.

“Our enforcement team under the public health section conducted regular inspections of eateries and markets under our jurisdiction.

“We thus urge total commitment from the food operators to ensure their places are clean at all time, and to strictly abide by the conditions stated in their licences, among which is not to throw their food waste into the drains because that would attract rats,” he said when met during the meet-thepeople session at Taman Jade Manis yesterday.

Julaihi said rats were responsible for the transmission of deadly diseases such as salmonellosis and plague, while their urine may cause leptospirosis.

He added that getting rid of rats was not the responsibility of the MCC alone but also needed the cooperation of food stall operators and the public.

On the part of the council, he said they would hold more work parties at public places here.

Meanwhile, the council received 10 public complaints as well as requests on various services.

Most of the cases were directed to the engineering section, which involve collapsed drains, drain maintenance, illegal extension, and streetlight installation.

Complants directed to the public health section said many rats were ‘invading’ several commercial centres in the city.

The council also received requests directed to the enforcement team to take action against shop owners who abuse five- foot ways to display their products.