SUNGAI BAKAP RESIDENTS WANT NEW ASSEMBLYMAN TO SOLVE LONG-STANDING HOUSEFLY PROBLEM

By Ahmad Erwan Othman

NIBONG TEBAL, July 1 (Bernama) -- It appears there is no end to the plight of the residents of Taman Jawi Indah, Taman Halaman Indah and Taman Widuri in Sungai Bakap here who have to face housefly attacks every year despite numerous complaints. 

Also affected by the same problem are the residents of Kampung Sungai Kechil, Kampung Besar and Kampung Teluk, where the residents claimed the problem was caused by poor waste management by three poultry farms not far from the villages.

A resident of Taman Halaman Indah, Warzinan Ahmad, 43, said that the 'seasonal' housefly attack is said to be more rampant when the owners are moving the mature chickens for sale and when there are insecticide sprayings at the farm.

"There are not many flies now because it is not the season. This is under control. But if it's a housefly season, especially during hot weather, even the dinner table is covered with houseflies while at night, there is an unpleasant stench in the air," he told Bernama when met recently.

Therefore, Warzinan who operates a mixed rice stall at the business centre near the park hopes that the candidate who wins the Sungai Bakap state by-election on July 6 will be able to raise the issue and thus solve the problems faced in the past few years ago.

"This issue has been going on for quite some time until we have forgotten about it. It is very irritating and can threaten the health of villagers," he said

Last Friday, the Penang Veterinary Services Department (JPVPP) announced that it had issued six compounds on poultry farms from February 19 to April 30 for poor chicken waste management. 

Out of that number, three compounds were issued against the farm owners in Sungai Bakap.

A grocery storekeeper in Taman Halaman Indah, Nur Hanim Mustafa, 31, said the issue was a headache for them as they were constantly 'at war' with houseflies that often sit on wet items if they are not covered tightly.

"Raw goods such as fish, chicken must be checked and covered and protected from houseflies. I don't want to lose because customers will definitely not buy if they are infested with houseflies," she said.

Meanwhile, a Bernama survey of chicken farm areas in Changkat Dain and Paya Temiar, here found that the chicken farms in question had been operating for decades before the housing projects and nearby business premises were built.

The Sungai Bakap state by-election is seeing a straight fight between Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Dr Joohari Ariffin and Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Abidin Ismail, which was held following the death of incumbent Nor Zamri Latiff on May 24 last year due to stomach inflammation.

-- BERNAMA