By Wendy John
SIBU, Jan 22: Eighty per cent of the 700 eating outlets here have complied with the “Say No to Plastic Straw” campaign initiated by Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) since it started on January 1.
The council introduced the campaign with the sole aim of conserving the environment.
Speaking at a press conference after the council meeting today, Public Health and Municipal Services chairperson Councillor Rhoda Ting said the 80 per cent compliance rate was an indication of strong support from eating outlet operators.
However, the council wanted to better the commitment from the operators, she said.
“In the next three months, we hope to achieve at least 90 per cent compliance,” she emphasised.
To operators who were still giving plastic straws to their customers, she reminded them that the council enforcement team will start compounding them.
“Those caught will be issued with a RM50 compound and their stocks of plastic straws will also be confiscated,” she warned.
Additionally, warning letters would also be issued to the defaulters.
“If they are given three warning letters within a year, their operating license will be cancelled. This is one of the conditions in the issuing of licences which they need to comply with,”she said.
On the dengue situation, Ting said there was an increase of 130 cases from 74 cases in 2018 to 204 cases last year.
“Most of these cases happened in Taman Rajang area and Lane 16, Jalan Wong King Huo where construction of buildings are still going on,” she said.
She wanted residents in Taman Rajang and the contractor for the buildings in Jalan Wong King Huo to get rid of mosquitoes breeding areas.
Separately, she said following the outbreak of rabies in the state, SMC had caught a total of 1,575 stray dogs in 2018 and another 1,066 last year.
“The public are advised not to let their dogs roam in the street or else our enforcement team will also catch them,” she said.
Members of the public may contact the SMC enforcement team hotline at 084-310808 and 013-8077964 if they see stray dogs in their area.
Among those present at the press conference were SMC chairman Clarence Ting, and other councillors. — DayakDaily
