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Borneo Post
3 days ago
- Health
- Borneo Post
DBKK offers RM2 per rat caught at central market
Sabin speaking with Robert Lipon at the event. KOTA KINABALU (June 25): Individuals who catch and surrender rats to Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) from now until 31 July will receive RM2 for each rat, said Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah. 'We encourage the public to help catch as many rats as possible,' he said during the launch of the rat eradication campaign at the Kota Kinabalu Central Market today. The initiative is part of a nationwide campaign involving 10 local authorities, organised by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), with DBKK nominated by the Sabah Government to represent the state. The campaign aims to eliminate rat infestations in identified areas, particularly public markets, and to achieve a Rodent Index of 1 or below. It also seeks to improve the efficiency of local authorities in rat control, enhance environmental cleanliness and foster healthy competition among local councils. 'In Kota Kinabalu, this campaign will run at the Central Market until 31 July 2025,' said Sabin. He added that the initiative aligns with DBKK's vision of making Kota Kinabalu a liveable city — safe, clean and healthy for all. It also supports the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the government's Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat (National Healthy Malaysia Agenda). 'This shows that local actions can have a global impact. What we do today will help create a better future for the next generation,' he said, noting the campaign also promotes smart partnerships between DBKK, the private sector and the community, in line with the Local Agenda 21 Programme. Among the campaign's activities are communal clean-up (gotong-royong) efforts at the Central Market and the implementation of rat control measures using physical, mechanical and chemical methods, in accordance with rat control guidelines. DBKK will also organise a stall cleanliness competition and a rat catching competition, with a RM2 incentive for every rat handed over. Informational exhibitions and brochures on environmental health were also prepared for the campaign launch to raise public awareness. Traders are encouraged to register as Smart City Friends at a designated counter to strengthen cooperation between DBKK and the business community in keeping the Central Market and the wider city clean and orderly. Sabin highlighted the health risks posed by rat infestations, particularly leptospirosis, a disease transmitted to humans through water contaminated with rat urine. 'Rats are not only unpleasant but dangerous. If we do not act, public health, the city's image and business activities — especially in busy areas like the Central Market — could be seriously affected,' he cautioned. He noted that DBKK has long carried out regular rat control operations in public markets and busy areas. In 2023, DBKK exterminated 1,299 rats. Between January and June 2024, the number was 775. For the same period this year, 528 rats have been caught. At the Kota Kinabalu Central Market alone, 111 rats were caught between January and June 2024. So far this year, 187 rats have been caught during the same timeframe. 'DBKK cannot act alone. Cleanliness and environmental safety are the responsibility of everyone — traders, market users, nearby residents and visitors,' Sabin stressed. He urged the public to dispose of waste properly, keep stall areas clean and report signs of rodent activity. 'I am confident that with teamwork and support from all parties, we can make Kota Kinabalu a model city — clean, healthy and liveable for all,' he said. Also present at the event was DBKK Deputy Director-General (Operations Sector), Robert Lipon.
Daily Express
10-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Initiative to reduce straw usage at outlets
Published on: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 10, 2025 By: Sidney Skinner Text Size: This coffeeshop patron in Inanam was compounded for haphazardly disposing of his rubbish. KOTA Kinabalu food operators, including hawkers, risk having their licences suspended if they are found to be providing plastic and polystyrene straws with their beverages after the next four months. A spokesman for the agency's Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) said such action would be enacted in the worst-case-scenario. Advertisement 'City Hall licence-holders will initially be served with notices of non-compliance,' he said. 'Should they continue to disregard our formal request to refrain from handing out plastic and polystyrene straws to their customers, then we will have no choice but to suspend their licence.' 'Plastic and polystyrene straws cannot be recycled. On top of this, they contain compounds which are harmful to the human body. 'We want eatery and stall owners to switch to using paper straws or those made from organic material, like corn starch.' He said City Hall intended to do away with the use of plastic and polystyrene straws within its rating area from October 1 onwards. The spokesman said senior City Hall officials, including its Director General of Operations Robert Lipon and SWMD Director Leong Tze Fui, met with 150-200 individuals in the food and related sectors on Friday to make them aware of the agency's intention. He said personnel from local plastic manufacturing companies, as well as representatives from the Sabah branch of the Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM) and the Local Government and Housing Ministry were also present during the engagement session. 'By and large, the food operators and hawkers were supportive of our plan. But some asked if we could push back the October 1-start to a later date. 'We have given all those concerned between now and September 30 to fulfil our requirements. Four months should be more than enough time for them to deplete their existing stock of plastic and polystyrene straws.' He explained that the move to 'zero-ise' the use of these straws was a natural evolution of City Hall's 'No Plastic Bags' policy which was launched last year. 'We are not the first local authority in the country to prohibit the use of plastic and polystyrene straws in the country. Several in Peninsula Malaysia have already made done this, as has the Sarikei District Council in our neighbour State, Sarawak.' Meanwhile, litterbugs around the State Capital could find themselves RM10,000 poorer, if they persist in disposing of their rubbish, including cigarette butts, indiscriminately. The spokesman said this was the maximum fine which could be imposed under City Hall's (Anti-Litter) By-Laws 1985 (Amendment 2005), if the offenders were found guilty in court. He said legal action was initiated by the agency in extreme cases. 'A total of 81 wrongdoers received Anti-Litter compounds from SWMD inspectors during 29 'Ops Bersih' inspections carried out last month,' he said. These checks involved properties within the City Centre, as well as those in areas ranging from Likas to Manggatal, according to him. 'A compound of up to RM500 can be imposed for anyone caught contravening the By-Laws.' He said those in Kota Kinabalu, included the shophouses in Bandaran Berjaya, Kg Air, Sinsuran and Segama, as well as Centre Point Sabah. Checks were also made of the public areas on Jalan Gaya and Jalan Tugu, according to him. 'The highest number of litterbugs was nabbed around Kg Air (13), followed by Center Point (10) and Segama (9). When it came to areas outside the City limits, the spokesman said the SWMD team went to Inanam and Manggatal towns, as well as several commercial centres including Damai Plaza, Plaza Juta, Kingfisher Plaza, Inanam Taipan, Manggatal Plaza and Sulaman Sentral. On top of this, inspections were also carried out at Mini Putrajaya and the shops at Universiti Apartment, according to him. 'Inanam town and Taipan tied for the locations with the most offenders, in this instance, with a total of six litter-bugs caught in these areas. 'This was followed by the Kingfisher Plaza where four errant individuals were nabbed. Three each were taken to task around Sulaman Sentral and Damai Plaza.' * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
09-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
DBKK to ban polystyrene, plastic straws from Oct 1
Published on: Monday, June 09, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 09, 2025 Text Size: For illustrative purposes only. - Getty Images KOTA KINABALU: The City Hall's (DBKK) campaign to reduce the use of polystyrene and plastic straws will come into effect on Oct 1. The move was announced during an engagement session held at the Kota Kinabalu Community Hall on June 6, attended by 135 stakeholders including coffee shop associations, hawker groups, mall managers, and plastic producers. Advertisement Chaired by DBKK Deputy Director-General (Operations) Robert Lipon, the session was also attended by representatives from the Local Government and Housing Ministry and Sabah Sirim. A briefing was delivered by DBKK's Solid Waste Management Department Director Leong Tze Fui, followed by an open discussion for participants to share feedback and suggestions. The campaign will officially be launched on June 29 in conjunction with the 'My City, My Responsibility' Environmental Awareness Campaign. From Oct 1, all licensed food and beverage (F&B) operators, retailers, caterers, hawkers, markets, and school canteens under DBKK will be prohibited from using polystyrene packaging or providing plastic straws. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
