By Dewi Abdul Rahman
AMPANG JAYA, July 16 – Eateries, sundry shops and supermarkets under the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council’s (MPAJ) that are determined to be at risk of becoming rat breeding grounds will be penalised.
MPAJ public relations division and secretariat director Norhayati Ahmad said the move to widen enforcement is part of the local authority’s continuous efforts to control the population of the pests.
“The MPAJ is enforcing a campaign to eradicate rats at public markets such as Pasar Besar Ampang.
Locations were chosen “based on surveys on rat populations over seven days at several markets such as Pasar Pekan Ampang, Pasar Pandan Jaya, Pasar Tasik Tambahan, and Pasar Kuala Ampang”, she told Media Selangor, adding that Pasar Pekan Ampang had the largest rat population.
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A sign shows a reward of RM3 per rat caught, part of the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council’s efforts to eradicate the pests at public markets, at Pasar Pekan Ampang on July 16, 2025. — Picture by HARUN TAJUDIN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Norhayati said the campaign is MPAJ’s way of supporting the Housing and Local Government Ministry’s Clean Public Markets Campaign and Rat Eradication Campaign, to control rat populations with cooperation from local communities, in addition to conventional methods such as poison and cleanups.
“Control measures with rat poison at hotspots have been implemented, and we close holes that could become rat breeding grounds,” she added.
She said the MPAJ will also perform a rat index study at Pasar Pekan Ampang to assess the size of the rat population and measure the effectiveness of the campaign in relevant areas.
“So far, 25 rats have been captured by the public (and handed over) through the rat purchase counter at Pasar Pekan Ampang. Cash rewards are also offered to encourage residents’ involvement in the campaign,” Norhayati added.
The MPAJ offers an RM3 cash reward per captured rat throughout the campaign, which is done in collaboration with the Zone 8 Residents’ Committee.
The cash reward counter is open until July 25 from 9.30am to 12pm at Pasar Pekan Ampang.
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A wet market worker holds up a caged rat during the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council's rat eradication campaign at Pasar Pekan Ampang on July 16, 2025. — Picture by HARUN TAJUDIN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
