Communications Ministry to propose a mega gotong-royong campaign with Unity and Health ministries to curb dengue and combat Aedes mosquitoes nationwide
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Communications will hold discussions with the Ministry of National Unity (KPN) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) to examine closer cooperation in efforts to eradicate dengue in the country through programmes involving the community.
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said among the proposals that will be examined is holding a mega gotong-royong programme in conjunction with the National Preparedness Month (BKN) 2026 this October.
“I will speak and discuss with the Minister of Unity (Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang) since Rukun Tetangga is under the ministry, to examine closer cooperation with the Ministry of Health in efforts to hold gotong-royong.
“Perhaps in conjunction with the Preparedness Month in October, it is appropriate to hold a mega gotong-royong, subject to the planning of the Ministry of Unity and the Information Department (JAPEN) itself,” he told reporters after officiating the Mega Gotong-royong to Fight Aedes programme in the Lembah Pantai, here today.
Fahmi, who is also the government spokesperson, said the move was important following the worrying number of dengue cases recorded so far.
He said programmes such as gotong-royong could help create a change in attitude among residents to ensure that environmental cleanliness is maintained continuously.
The Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament said that based on information collected by the Lembah Pantai District Health Office, a cumulative total of 52,123 dengue cases was recorded nationwide until the 30th week of the epidemic this year.
“For the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, the total is 9,465 while for Lembah Pantai, Bukit Bintang and Seputeh, the total is 2,779 to date. So these figures are quite worrying,” he said.
Regarding measures to combat aedes in Lembah Pantai, Fahmi said his party would discuss with the Lembah Pantai District Health Office to implement an approach using periodic spraying equipment in affected housing areas.
He said the approach involved placing spraying equipment in certain locations to be used periodically throughout the year, with the collaboration of the private sector, the Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament’s Office, the Lembah Pantai District Health Office as well as the management body (MC) in the housing area concerned.
“We have seen that when it was implemented previously in several places, it successfully reduced the problem of dengue infection. For Lembah Pantai, we intend to implement it at PPR Kampung Limau with the cooperation, God willing, of nearby developers, also at Desa Aman 2 and at Kondo Rakyat,” he said.
He said the effort would be implemented as soon as possible following the expected increase in rainfall during the monsoon season from October to December which could create more breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes.