THE residents of Desa Mawar Flats in Air Itam came together in a spirit of unity to take part in a ‘gotong-royong’ programme in their neighbourhood today.
Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng said the communal cleanup programme, which was jointly organised by the flats’ management and the Thean Teik Village Community Management Councils (MPKK), received an overwhelming response.
“The cleanup is part of the usual activities organised by the residents, but due to the movement control order (MCO), they were unable to do it.
“Today, some 80 residents have turned up for the event which is indeed the biggest participation from the community thus far in the gotong royong activity over here.
“The residents are also assisted by team or personnel from Penang Island City Council (MBPP), state Health Department, voluntary fire brigade and Bandar Baru police,” said Ng.
He added that the gotong-royong was to curb the breeding of dengue mosquitoes in the Desa Mawar area, which is a dengue hotspot.
“We have also printed flyers on the precautionary measures that the residents have to take to prevent the breeding of dengue mosquitoes.
“The flyers will be distributed to the community here to create an awareness on the rise of the dengue cases as well as to educate them on this,” he added.
Apart from that, Ng also shared his initiative to eradicate dengue cases using a natural approach to treat standing water other than the use of a larvacide such as abate.
“I would like to suggest using the ‘ikan Pelaga’ (Betta splendens) to prevent the breeding of disease carrying insects, such as the dengue mosquitoes.
“In this neighbourhood there are many ‘ikan Pelaga’ breeders, so I will be working with them in this iniatiative.
“The fish breeders usually discard poor quality species, but I have requested them to give the fish to me instead.
“We can give away the fish (ikan Pelaga) to the residents for them to place the fish into standing waters. The fish can help to treat the water and prevent dengue mosquitoes from breeding.
“Residents who are interested can come to our service centre at Air Itam to get the fish. We will give them a few,” Ng added.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi
