Builders are the prime suspects
The Star 1/10/2005 By ELAN PERUMAL

ENFORCEMENT officers are going on raids to construction sites in Selangor as the state government has identified developers as the prime culprits for the spread of dengue. They have contributed to 40% of the total number of dengue cases in Selangor.

“We are going all out to nab them in efforts to combat the dengue outbreak,'' said Selangor Health Committee chairman Datuk Dr Lim Thuang Seng after conducting a spot check at a construction site in USJ1 recently.

Lim said construction areas continued to be the top aedes breeding grounds. “We will not show leniency to the culprits.''

Lim looking at a suspected aedes mosquito larva recently.

The errant developers could face a penalty of up to RM10,000, two years' imprisonment or both, if found guilty, he said.

Lim said the state had instructed the district health department and local authorities to send their officers out to the construction sites.

He said developers should ensure their work areas were not breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

“They should co-operate with the authorities to ease the outbreak,'' he said.

Lim said enforcement personnel from Subang Jaya Municipal Coucnil (MPSJ) had obtained samples of larvae from three huge pools at a construction site for a mega store last week.

“We will wait for the outcome of lab analysis before taking action against the developer,'' he said

On the latest statistics, for the past week, Lim said Selayang Municipal Council had received the highest number of dengue suspect cases with 51. “This was followed by 27 cases in Subang Jaya, 24 in Gombak Municipal Council, 23 in Shah Alam City Council, 22 in Kajang Municipal Council, 17 in Ampang Jaya Municipal Council and 16 in Petaling Jaya Municipal Council.