Multi-purpose Aedes mosquito breeding centre

DAP National Deputy Chairman dan MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw requests the Implementation and Coordination Centre (ICU) to improve its coordination with the Health Ministry and local authorities to ensure that all projects in the country do not become major
Aedes mosquito breeding centres.

Dr Tan visited the Multi-purpose Sports Centre at the Menjalara Lake Garden, Kepong, this morning to ascertain the state of the centre that has been going on for over 5 years. We do not know who is at fault. We are concerned that after spending about RM5 million, the centre has become a major Aedes aegypti breeding centre.

After seeing the centre on 23 August, 2005, Dr Tan asked the Government to ensure that the contractor completed the building according to specifications. For unknown reasons, about three months later, the project is still dangling in the air.

Recently, the incidence of dengue has increased. Aedes mosquitoes carry the virus and spread the disease. Major breeding grounds for Aedes include construction sites, especially abandoned projects. All Malaysians in particular developers and contractors should always be on the alert.

City Hall Kuala Lumpur (CHKL) is under the Prime Minister's Department. ICU is also under the same department and it has an allocation of over RM404 million. This unit acts as the secretariat for the Cabinet Committee, monitors and assesses special projects as well as assists in problematical projects.

CHKL develops the Menjalara Lake Garden which is popular. Its concept of attractive public toilet and atmosphere and modern sports facilities such as an air-conditoned badminton court is progressive. But, the implementation of the projects disappoints the public.

Yesterday, Dr Tan met Encik Hasan Hj Hamzah, Director of Architect and Special Projects Department, CHKL, about the attractive toilet, the drying lake and the abandoned multi-purpose sports centre. He has reasonable concepts about modern projects.

Today, Dr Tan finds that the sports centre has become a multi-purpose Aedes breeding centre. There were signs of whitish chemicals being used several hours ago to kill many mosquitoes in abandoned containers such as unused pipes.

The most astounding is the large pool of knee-high clear water underground from the spared tanks within the complex. There is no sign of the cloudy chemical to exterminate Aedes. The sports complex has become a multi-purpose Aedes breeding centre.

ICU, CHKL and Health Ministry must enhance their coordination and their determination to eradicate Aedes and dengue. Why should construction projects such as Menjalara Multi-purpose Sports Centre become a major Aedes breeding ground?