Not a thief nor a highly wanted Kota Kinabalu criminal, but instead the bounty is for… rats. City Hall (DBKK) has come up with a rather interesting solution to their rat situation; offering a shiny RM2 bounty for every rat brought in, dead or alive.
Although it sounds all fun and games but it’s part of a bigger problem, in fact it’s a nationwide crackdown, with 10 local authorities joining the raid. The mission is to reclaim the public spaces, especially their beloved markets from these pesky disease-carrying critters. After all, nobody wants a side of leptospirosis with their nasi lemak, or any other nasty surprises these creatures bring.
Of course there will be critics. Some question whether a public bounty might unintentionally create a rat-breeding industry to profit. So, perhaps a more professional, systematic approach using dedicated sweepers or pest control experts that can offer a more sustainable solution than relying on citizens.
The numbers show in 2023, 1,299 rats were killed. But this year? at least, 528 brave rats were caught, while most of them are still out on the run. Clearly, restaurants are becoming a five-star resorts for these critters.
Last year, cleanliness activists, Zurainee Kula highlighted KK’s worsening state and called for a shift on the public’s mindset towards better waste management. This doesn’t just apply to KK, just recently, a video went viral of rats feasting on food counters in KL as well.
So, what can a public citizen do? Well, DBKK isn’t just handing out cash; they are urging us to fight back. Citizens can ensure waste is properly disposed, keeping stalls sparkling clean and to help report on any rat sightings quickly. It’s a win-win situation.
Let’s transform KK back into the pest-free beautiful city it used to be, or even better, make Malaysia a clean country. The next time you see a rat, don’t hesitate, contact DBKK or capture it yourself and our health will thank us.
Umi Moslimi (umibasyirahhm@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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