Solve garbage problem within a month, Selangor authorities told

PETALING JAYA: The Selangor state and local authorities have been asked to solve the garbage management problem in the Petaling and Hulu Langat districts within a month.

They are to present updates on the garbage management situation to the national task force meeting on dengue next month, said Health director-general Datuk Seri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

“From Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam’s visits to Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara and Taman Taming Jaya flats, the issue of garbage in Selangor was not managed well.

“Too many piles of garbage were uncollected while the surroundings are dirty,” he said in a press statement posted on www.kpkesihatan.com yesterday.

Dr Noor Hisham said the services provided were not enough for the community – for instance, only three garbage bins were provided for four blocks of flats.

The garbage management was still being implemented in stages in Petaling and Hulu Langat districts, he said.

Local authorities were also asked to take dengue preventive measures in view of ­traders selling their food and wares into the night during Ramadan.

“They must carry out larvaciding and preventive fogging in public places. They must also ensure that rubbish are collected and the surrounding area cleaned up,” he said.

From June 28 to July 4, a total of 2,832 dengue cases were reported nationwide compared with 2,710 cases the week before, which is a 5% increase.

From January to July 4, a total of 59,365 cases had been reported compared with 44,518 cases for the same period last year, an increase of 14,847 or 4%.

There were 165 dengue deaths in total, almost double the number (85) in the same period last year. The top three states with the highest number of dengue cases were Selangor (726), followed by Johor (217) and Perak (52).