By Aida Aziz
IPOH: For more than a year, residents of Dataran Pengkalan Barat 14, Taman Temara, have reportedly been forced to deal with mosquito problems and dengue risk following an abandoned house that is overgrown with bushes.
The situation is not only a risk to residents of the housing area itself, but has also caused concern among many residents of the neighbouring area, Kampung Cempaka Sari.
A resident said there are unused water tanks and many discarded items left unattended at the house located at No. 18, Dataran Pengkalan Barat 14, Taman Temara, causing stagnant water that has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and larvae.
“Every early morning and late evening, we as residents are forced to close all our windows and doors because there are so many mosquitoes.
“In this residential area, there are elderly people, children, and infants, and we are worried about the risk of dengue or chikungunya outbreaks.
“This mosquito breeding site not only threatens residents of Taman Temara but also puts residents of Kampung Cempaka Sari at risk.
“I was informed by nearby neighbours that complaints have been lodged several times with the Ipoh City Council (MBI) councillor and the Ipoh City Council itself.
“However, until now, only fogging has been carried out, with the last session on 15 January.
“But no action has been taken on the house itself. They shouldn’t wait for new cases before taking action,” the resident told Ipoh Echo/Peraktastic.
Residents have also urged the Kinta District Health Office and the MBI Vector Control Unit to immediately clean the house and remove all containers and discarded items.
According to them, even if fogging is carried out, mosquitoes and the risk of dengue will persist if the house is not cleaned promptly.
“It is understood that the house has an owner who lives outside Perak, but there has been no initiative from the owner to come and clean the property.
“We have had to deal with this issue for a long time. We hope the authorities and those responsible will handle this problem as soon as possible and help us here,” the resident added.
