By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Nov 7: Residents who plant flowers, vegetables or other vegetation on land outside their house compounds must take responsibility for keeping the areas clean and free of stagnant water to prevent Aedes mosquito breeding, failing which they risk having their plants removed and facing fines.
Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng warned that the council would issue a one-week notice to residents found failing to properly maintain such areas, and would remove the plants if no action was taken within the stipulated period.
He said MBKS had been engaging with residents and gathering public feedback, with the council recently inspecting an area behind Kenyalang to address complaints about poorly maintained plots of land.
“We found that some residents had planted fruit trees, vegetables and other plants on the land, while other sections had been left unattended and overgrown.
“The council will do our best to clear neglected areas and we will try to avoid disturbing vegetables and fruit trees planted by residents for their own consumption,” he said during his ShallWeeTalk live session today.
However, Wee stressed that anyone wishing to grow plants outside their homes must also be prepared to maintain the areas responsibly, particularly by ensuring there was no stagnant water that could become a breeding ground for Aedes mosquitoes.
“Our main concern is public health, particularly given the weather conditions and the problem of Aedes mosquitoes.
“If you want to plant flowers or trees, you must take responsibility for maintaining them properly and ensure there is no stagnant water,” he said.
Wee warned that residents found allowing Aedes mosquitoes to breed on their premises could face penalties imposed by the council and Ministry of Health, with fines starting from several hundred ringgit.
More importantly, he said, mosquito breeding could lead to dengue cases that would put not only the household concerned but also the surrounding community at risk.
He also urged residents to ensure that drains and drainage channels remained clear and unobstructed to allow water to flow freely, instead of creating conditions conducive to mosquito breeding.
Wee emphasised that MBKS was not against residents planting flowers, vegetables or fruit trees, but such activities must not compromise public cleanliness or affect the well-being of neighbouring households.
“Those who no longer wished to maintain their plants could remove them, while residents who still wanted to grow vegetables or flowers could consider keeping them within their own house compounds, where they could be properly looked after,” he advised.
He said the council would take action against areas that were not properly maintained, adding that residents would first be given seven days to clean up before MBKS proceeded to remove the plants and vegetation.
On the council’s approach to mosquito control, Wee said prevention remained the priority, with efforts focused on eliminating stagnant water and clearing overgrown vegetation before considering further intervention.
He explained that insecticide spraying was generally not carried out indiscriminately but was undertaken when dengue cases were reported or when there was a specific need for such action.
“By the time dengue cases occur and we start taking action, it may already be too late. That is why we need to address the potential breeding grounds first,” he said.
Wee added that during the council’s recent visit to the Kenyalang area, several neighbouring residents had come forward to lodge complaints, highlighting how poorly maintained plots could affect people living nearby.
He called on residents to take notices from the council seriously and cooperate with enforcement efforts, stressing that maintaining a clean and healthy neighbourhood was a shared responsibility.
“Do not put your own family’s safety at risk, and do not endanger the safety of your community or neighbours.
“We hope everyone can understand and cooperate with us. Let us be good neighbours and work together to keep our community clean and safe,” he said. — DayakDaily
