City Hall is cracking down on the presence of used tyres in common areas around housing roads in the State Capital in a bid to proactively prevent dengue outbreaks from being triggered in the hundreds of residential areas within its rating-area.The agency’s Deputy Director-General for Operations Robert Lipon said there was a high possibility of rainwater collecting in the tyres becoming a breeding ground for Aedes mosquitoes.ADVERTISEMENT
“With public well-being as our priority, we are instructing our rate-payers to refrain from re-purposing these tyres as make-shift planters or using them to hold their rubbish bins in place,” he said.
A Health Inspector takes a photo of the water inside one of the used tyres which is being used to keep these Luyang rubbish bins upright.
“They should also not be used to block-off parking spaces on road-shoulders.”
He warned that action could be taken, under the Local Government Ordinance 1961 (Amendment 2000), against those who failed to abide with City Hall’s instructions.
“Non-compliance may see the offenders facing court action, with a fine of up to RM1,000 imposed if they are found guilty.ADVERTISEMENT
“Alternatively, they may have to spend up to six months behind bars for creating a breeding ground for mosquitoes which could become a nuisance.”
Lipon said 10 rate-payers were notified to get rid of their used tyres and clean up their respective compounds during an “Ops Bersepadu Menangani Wabak Dengue (Joint Operation to Fight Dengue)” which ended Wednesday.
An Enforcement Officer tugs at a used tyre which has been repurposed into a planter in Taman Bintang.
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“Over 47 tyres were removed from the public spaces at 23 neighbourhoods, ranging from Kepayan to Inanam, which were checked as part of the exercise.”
“A total of 30 personnel from our Enforcement, Landscaping, Solid Waste Management and Health and Environment Departments conducted the Operation over a two-week plus period.”
He said the decision to organise the Joint Operation, which began on July 27, was tabled at the Kota Kinabalu Dengue Control Committee meeting earlier that month.
The residential areas they went to included Taman Kinamount, Taman Ridgeview 12, Taman Kemajuan, Taman Sempelang, Taman Friendly Phase 3, Taman Foo Loong, Taman Golden City, Taman Kinanty Phase 2, Phase 1 and 2 of Taman Inanam Laut, Taman Kurnia Jaya, Taman Kim Leng, Taman Luyang Phase 2, Taman Ridgeview Phase 9, Taman Bintang, Taman Kepayan Ridge, Taman Sri Kepayan, Taman Cantek and Taman King Lam.
Inspections were also made of Phase 1 and Two of Kg Warisan, the Kepayan Low Cost Housing area and homes along Jalan Donald in Likas.
Lipon said one homeowner was compounded on the day that the agency’s team inspected the latter and Taman Kemajuan.
“The individual was penalised under City Hall’s Anti-Litter By-Laws 1984. Offenders can be served with a compound up to RM500 for such violations.
“The yards of several homes in Taman Kurnia Jaya and Phase 1 and 2 of Taman Likas Jaya were found to be overgrown.
“We are preparing notices for the owners of each of these properties.”
Enforcement and Health staff spot a used tyre which has been used to block-off a parking space in this part of Kg Warisan.
Lipon said these individuals would be given a grace-period to tidy up their land.
“Follow-up inspections will be carried out after this. Further action will be taken, if we find that their property is still a mess.”
He said City Hall took a serious view to unkempt properties which had become a nuisance to the public in these areas.
“We are presently working with our Legal Department to begin court proceedings against over 71 negligent landowners.
He said a final warning, signed by the Mayor, would be given to these rate-payers as part of this process.
A team of officers has a word with this Sembulan homeowner about the used tyre in his yard.
“They will be notified that their ‘overgrown and unmaintained’ land was an eye sore and source of discomfort to the public in the area due to the presence of pests, including mosquitoes, which might be breeding on their property.
“A seven day grace-period will be given for these individuals to abate this nuisance.
“If they fail to comply, then we will have no choice but to initiate legal action.”
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