MBPJ goes all out in aggressive rat-catching campaign

PETALING JAYA: A two-month rat catching campaign will kick off here from Monday with an offer of RM3 for every rodent caught.
The RM3 is the highest bounty ever offered in a rat-catching campaign in the country, said Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran (pix) who is collaborating with the Petaling Jaya City Council's department of environmental health in the latest bid to control the rodent population.
"There have been numerous complaints of rat infestations all over Petaling Jaya, but the highest populations have been recorded in Section 17 and Old Town," he said.
During the campaign period, rats caught by the public have to be dropped off at the council's two collection areas - Jalan Othman market, Section 1, Old Town, from 9am to 11am and Section 17/1A market from 11.30am to 12.30pm.
Rajiv said the payment for the RM3 reward will come from his constituency budget allocation.
The dead rats would be spray painted to avoid recycling and the carcasses will be disposed off in council dumpsters.
In 2014, the council carried out 108 operations with 3,396 rats being caught and last year saw the disposal of 2003 rats following 181 operations.