Yes, generally speaking the residents in PJ and Subang Jaya agree that the city and town councils, MBPJ and MPSJ, should stop holding any more campaigns asking them, residents, to catch a rat dead or alive for RM3 a piece, in view of the health risks involved from exposures to rat urine and for handling of diseased rats, and especially when all previous attempts had failed to eradicate the rodents at all in both places.

Of course there are other options the local governments of both city and town can use. One of which is to hire a team of expertise from a qualified pest control company to do the ‘Pied Piper’ job. Alternatively, get all your councillors to run a brainstorming exercise to find a concrete (workable) solution to take care of the menace once and for all, as this prolonged problem needs to put to rest, whatever it takes.

By the way, here is another solution that should help put an end to the rodent menace in MBPJ and MPSJ.

And that is the bosses should send out their health enforcement teams fortnightly to check out the business and shopping centres, to enforce the law, to see that the owners or operators of dirty and unkempt eateries, food courts, coffee shops, restaurants and roadside food stalls are given a hefty fine on-the-spot. Also, to seal the shop or premises for a period of 30 days to let the businessman or operator or owner to clean up the place.

Indeed, it is not fair to get residents out into the ‘field’ to do your job - as they (the residents) are paying you (MBPJ and MPSJ) with money collected from assessments to do the job. So, it is not the residents’ duty or obligation to catch the rats or to report any dirty or unkempt eateries, food courts, coffee shops, restaurants or roadside food stalls.

Obviously, this reward of RM3 per piece of dead or alive rat handed over to the respective local government is peanuts, though there are people who will go all out to bring in the catch. This does not mean they like the ‘job’ of catching rats - you see, because to someone who is poor and in dire need of some extra money, that offer is timely.

Indeed, apart from many different diseases spread by rats, the rat urine is the one, that is most deadly, that causes Leptospirosis, a viral infection without a vaccine to cure the ‘victim’. Therefore the rat-catcher should protect himself from being contaminated by rat urine like wearing safety boots, leather gloves and proper clothing. If not, the chances are he could accidentally get exposed to the urine unknowingly.

Think about the saying, penny wise and pound foolish, that is for making RM3 per catch and you get yourself landed in the hospital with a big medical bill to pay. Exactly, it is not worth the risks.

Nevertheless, people could still be infected by rat urine even though they are not participating in the catch-the-rats campaign by staying home. Like for example when they eat or drink from bowls, plates, fork and spoons, glasses and food boxes that have been unknowingly contaminated with rat urine from infected mice/rats in dirty eateries, coffee shops or restaurants.

It is common knowledge that Leptospirosis can also be directly be transmitted by rodents. So, if I were you I would not put my life at risk and would therefore leave the rat catching jobs strictly to the MBPJ and MPSJ Health Departments.

Yes, there are more than a dozen diseases caused by rat urine and droppings. So, stay out from being a hero or a ‘Pied Piper’.

Surprisingly, until today, MBPJ and MPSJ are still using such old and dangerous methods to ask residents to catch the rats, dead or alive for RM3 a piece, although it was already proven a failed job since the start of campaign, despite the health risks involved.

Besides, most residents reckon that it is a waste of time and taxpayers’ monies gone down the drain.

The public at large wonder why the councillors from MBPJ and MPSJ have allegedly gone on fully-paid overseas trips with frills every year, yet they could not find a way or method which they could use to eradicate the rodents back home.

Too busy sightseeing?

If they have looked around hard enough or asked somebody, surely there is a revolutionary or new method which they could have found during their working trips that they can use it to eradicate the rodent populations back home in Malaysia.

Exactly, they were out on a learning trip so how come none of them has yet find an answer or a solution to tackle the rat menace problem, perhaps they were too busy sightseeing and enjoying a free holiday at the expense of the tax-payers.

Now, coming back to the point. Yes, rats multiply rather quickly so before you catch one, a dozen new born litters are running around to take over. Thus, catching them by the handful does not at all help to put an end to the rodent menace in both townships.

Well, over to you, the MBPJ mayor and MPSJ president - both of you should get your councillors to hold more brainstormings exercises to come up with something new and concrete that when put to work will finally eradicate the rodents. If they fail, then call the ‘Pied Piper’, surely you know who, if you do not like to see your city and township overwhelmingly infested with rats.

Of course, you should read the fine print of ‘Pied Piper’ stories to understand why you should stop giving peanuts to monkeys. It says ‘penny wise and pound foolish’ - that is it will cost more to put out and to stop the menace.

Yes, this is a big job and you need to pay good money to the right person who really knows his business and what is the expectation.

By the way, how come not one of all your councillors has a solution that you can use to put an end to this rodent menace since their appointments? You need to get them started on burning the midnight oil or face transfers to desk duties.

LAU BING is a community activist and writer in Subang Jaya.