IPOH: PROPERTY owners, whose premises are found to be Aedes breeding grounds, will be slapped with the maximum RM500 fine with immediate effect.
State Health Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the state government had to resort to the move due to the seriousness of the dengue situation in the state.
He said when the RM500 fine was mooted three years ago, there were grouses among the people that the the penalty was very stiff.
“However, under the present circumstances, the state government is left with no choice but to enforce the ruling throughout the state.
“This is one way for the state government to curb the dengue menace and I hope the people will understand and support us,” he told Streets.
Dr Mah said the state government would boost enforcement operations statewide, particularly at dengue hotspots.
“Our records show that the base line for dengue cases is much higher than before.
“We have to do whatever is possible to control it and bring it down,” he said, adding that cooperation from the people was also crucial.
Perak recorded a total of 2,834 dengue cases for the first six months of the year compared with 934 such cases during the same period last year.
At the same time, the state also recorded seven dengue deaths compared to none during the corresponding period last year.
On Monday, the federal government set a two-month target to reduce the number of dengue cases, especially in 482 hotspots.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was quoted as saying that the authorities hoped to achieve the target through optimum measures to control the outbreak.
Selangor tops the list with the highest number of localities where the infection is active with 264 hotspots identified followed by Kelantan (66), Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (45), Negri Sembilan (41), Johor (28) and Sarawak (14).
The other hotspots are in Perak, Sabah, Kedah, Penang, Pahang, Perlis and Malacca.