RANAU: Residents here were surprised by the discovery of a type of grass that is hazardous to health, known as Rumput Miang Mexico (Parthenium hysterophorus), that grows in the yard of a house near here.State Department of Agriculture (DOA) has discovered the grass growing in Kg Lasing Ranau.Officers and staff of the Department will go to the area to verify and then eliminate the grass, which can be harmful to people.
ADVERTISEMENT
The public have been warned that a touch on Rumput Miang Mexico could cause severe sores and asthma and could be fatal, as a previous death had occurred in Peninsular Malaysia.Hence the department has alerted the public about the discovery of the grass in Kg Lasing Ranau, to prevent people from approaching the area where the weeds are growing.
People in Sabah, particularly in Ranau, are advised to be careful with the dangerous grass and urged anyone who finds such grass growing somewhere to quickly contact the Department.The grass of about 1.5 to two metres, which has white flowers and leaves like the ulam raja, is found to be growing easily in a climate such as Malaysia's.
ADVERTISEMENT
Several days ago, State Agriculture Director Idrus Shafie said the Rumput Miang Mexico dubbed as "the worst grass this century" destroys native flora and crops.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
A touch on the grass, first found in Peninsular Malaysia last year, also causes a rash that leaves permanent scars and damages the intestines of animals that eat them, and is difficult to be control with herbicides.
ADVERTISEMENT
Caption: A signage placed at the area to warn the public on the dangerous weeds.