I CAME across street banners in Subang Jaya, Selangor, announcing that there will be a rat extermination campaign this month.
I wonder if last year’s pilot project using barn owls has failed. If so, the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) is accountable for the loss of taxpayers’ money spent on this project.
The whole thing boils down to keeping the township clean.
By this, MPSJ enforcement officers should find ways to clear stagnant and smelly water from drains in front of shops .
They need to ensure that there is no food waste and rubbish in monsoon drains near eateries.
On a hot day, these blockages attract pests and scavengers.
We hope that MPSJ ensures that dustbins are emptied promptly, because once they are overflowing, they attract rats and crows. MPSJ has been carrying out many campaigns to rid crows and rodents in Subang Jaya, but has failed to achieve the desired results.
One has to drop by near the dry and wet market in SS15 and SS14 between 7pm and 7.30pm to witness the degree of crow infestation.
You will know when you enter a crow-infested area because you can hear the sounds of crows a distance away.
The “aar arr arr” sounds are a nuisance. Not only that, those who park their cars under trees will see crow droppings on their vehicles later.
It seems that shooting them did not yield any desirable outcome, making the exercise a big waste of time and money.
The exercise to eliminate crows should be a long-term process. With that in mind, MPSJ should look into setting up traps.
In the early 1980s, these traps were used on the grounds of University Malaya Medical Centre.
The wooden traps were left behind the area where the central kitchen was located. Food and fruits were used as bait.
There is a YouTube video tutorial on how to make the traps (https:// youtu.be/g7a-NeDTaL4).
At the same time, enforcement officers should increase their rounds at eateries to identify those responsible for clogged drains and haphazard disposal of food waste.
They should issue summonses to those dumping rubbish and food into drains or in undersized or over-spilling bins. These are feeding grounds not only for crows, but also rats.
LAU BING,
Subang Jaya, Selangor