'Clean up properly or face fine'

Local authorities to be penalised in anti-dengue op

PETALING JAYA: In an unprecedented move to battle the dengue scourge, the Health Ministry will fine local authorities if they fail to clean up areas under their care.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said that the ministry would penalise the local authorities under the Destruction of Disease Bearing Insect Act 1975 if their areas were found to be breeding mosquitoes.

“If we find the absence of action by the local authorities contributed to breeding of mosquitoes, our ministry will take action against them,” he said during a spot check in Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara here yesterday.

Dr Subramaniam said the ministry would not hesitate to act against the local authorities if they continued to turn a blind eye to cleanliness issues.

Deputy health directorgeneral Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman said no fines had been imposed against errant government departments until now.

From January to June 20, Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara, which covers a 162ha area, made up of mainly flats, condominiums, residential areas and squatter areas, had reported 288 dengue cases with two deaths.

Pointing to the sites where people had dumped rubbish, including the river, Dr Subramaniam said the local authorities had not done well in garbage collection.

“Whatever measures we take will not succeed if the local authorities and residents do not take this seriously and change their attitude,” he said.

A resident in Jalan Cempaka, Husin Chea, 56, said garbage bins provided by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) were not enough and garbage collection was not frequent enough although it was done regularly.

He said the presence of many foreigners in the area also added to the bulk of the garbage, adding that outsiders were also throwing rubbish into their neighbourhood.