Get to root cause of rat infestation

IT was extremely scary to read “Rats outnumber humans in Kuala Lumpur” ( The Star, Sept 21).

If this is the situation in Kuala Lumpur, I am not sure what the numbers are in other parts of the country.

But I’m sure they must be close or even higher.

I live in Subang Jaya and we have had several “Rat Attack” campaigns following which the streets were strewn with dead rats. Also, it is commonplace to see rats running across the streets at night in the city centres, especially near the eateries.

I once saw a rat with a half-eaten ice-cream cone in its mouth scampering outside a fast-food restaurant in SS15, Subang Jaya, at 6pm before it was dark! Absolutely appalling situation!

The writer pointed out that rats can bring the deadly disease of leptospirosis and 2,925 people had contracted leptospirosis since Aug 28, resulting in 28 deaths.

But we don’t even have the statistics of the physical health of the remaining people who didn’t die.

One of them, a teacher in his 30s, has end stage kidney failure ( The Star, Sept 20). Wonder what condition the rest of them are in? All this is very tragic and unnecessary as there are solutions to the problem.

So, please City Hall, the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) or whoever is responsible, do something fast or we may have another Pied Piper situation!

I believe enforcement is the answer and no amount of “Rat Attacks” are going to solve the problem because we are not getting to the root cause.

Clean eateries, drains, back streets and severe punishment, such as termination of business permits for those who do not meet the standards, are the only answers. KAMAL GEHI Subang Jaya