PETALING JAYA, 15 Oct: The Bukit Gasing Assemblyman, R Rajiv, has taken the initiative by installing Mosquito Magnets in Taman Jaya and Gasing Indah in an effort to reduce the mosquito population.

Rajiv said that the move is to help reduce the spread of Aedes mosquito that cause dengue when the number of cases keeps increasing every year.

“This is a pilot project in my constituency. We have to try new ways because the previous way did not meet the goal.

“So, I increased my efforts so that we can see its effectiveness. If it is still not very effective after this, we will try another way,” he said.

Rajiv said that the cost of the equipment is RM4,800 per unit and that the two recreational parks were selected because they have a high number of visitors.

“We received complaints from visitors that there are many mosquitoes there. However, it will be placed in rotation around the park or other areas,” he said.

He said that so far the constituency is still free from any hotspots in relation to dengue, however the trap is a precaution for the future.

“The detection on this device can go as far as one acre, unless there is a building that is an obstacle or something like it,” he said.

Rajiv also suggested for this initiative to be implemented by the state government.

“To begin with, the state government can install 100 units at each local authority. This technology is being used in the United States and has been proven to be effective in other countries.

“The gas in the cylinder will change into carbon dioxide to attract mosquitoes to the trap. Mosquitoes will be trapped in the net and die within 24 hours, in fact the same equipment is being used in Penang and Sarawak.

NS