AFTER making the rounds in 18 areas, the Subang Jaya Municipal Council carried out its rat eradication gotong-royong programme in the Sunway Metro commercial area  for the first time  on Saturday.

Rat poison mixed with bread was placed near drains in the PJS 11 commercial area  the day before.

Fifty-four dead rats were  removed  during the gotong-royong which involved 60 participants made up of Zone 2 Residents Committee members, PJS 9 Neighbourhood Watch members, restaurant owners and workers, and Universiti Putra Malaysia students.

Zone 2 councillor Chia Yew Ken said similar gotong-royong exercises were carried out in areas such as USJ 2, Taman Puchong Permai, SS15, Taman Sri Serdang, Bandar Puteri 7, Bandar Kinrara and Taman Serdang Perdana in the first half of this year.

"This is the first time it is being carried out in PJS 11.  I hope this will be a continuous effort and the council's health department will monitor the situation," he added.

Chia said  the  nearby PSJ 9 food court was the next place where the programme would be carried out.

Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh, who mooted the gotong-royong,  said: "I am pleased to hear that the business community had joined in the gotong-royong.

"Their participation is crucial as we need the cooperation of business owners."

The Zone 2 Residents Committee, meanwhile, gave  120-litre rubbish bins to restaurants  to ensure that wastes are disposed of properly.