Kota Kinabalu: City Hall (DBKK) is offering RM2 for every rat caught and handed in under a month-long rodent control campaign launched at the Central Market here, Wednesday.
Mayor Datuk Seri Sabin Samitah said the campaign is part of a national programme involving 10 local authorities across the country and aims to curb rat infestations while improving hygiene in public markets.
“Kota Kinabalu was selected to represent Sabah. The goal is to ensure cleanliness in our markets and stop the spread of diseases such as leptospirosis caused by rat urine,” he said at the launching of 2025 Local Authority Rodent Control Campaign.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});He said rats not only pose a health risk but also damage the city’s image, especially in key areas like the Central Market.
The campaign, which runs until July 31 this year, kicked off with a joint clean-up involving market traders, DBKK officers, health officials and the Fire and Rescue Department.
Sabin said DBKK conducts regular rodent control but this initiative expands the effort to cover other hotspots, including fruit and handicraft markets around the city. To encourage public participation, DBKK will pay RM2 for every rat caught and submitted by traders or members of the public.
“The incentive begins on July 1 and submissions can be made at the DBKK station inside the Central Market. We hope the community will work together. If more rats are caught, fewer problems later,” he said. He also noted that DBKK is working to ensure sufficient rubbish bins and proper waste collection to avoid spillover that attracts pests.
“From January to June this year, DBKK caught 528 rats across the city. At the Central Market alone, 187 rats were caught, compared to 111 during the same period last year,” he said.
He also highlighted that the campaign is part of the National Healthy Malaysia Agenda and supports ongoing efforts to build a cleaner and safer urban environment.
“Traders are also encouraged to register as Smart City Friends to strengthen cooperation with DBKK,” Sabin said.
