KEMAMAN: Bluehill Development Sdn Bhd, a construction company based in Chukai was fined RM6,000 by the magistrate’s court here today after its director pleaded guilty to a charge of turning its construction site into a breeding ground for the aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
The offence was committed in July last year when health officers found the construction site for the 18-storey condominium in Chukai was infested by the aedes aegypti during a month long Ops Gempur Aedes to check the spread of dengue.
Magistrate Badrul Munir Mohd Hamdy meted out a deterrent sentence taken after taking into account public interests and the weightage by the prosecutor on the seriousness of the case.
Meanwhile, State Health director Dr Mohammad Omar said the fine was the highest so far and was aimed at deterring any company or individuals from allowing their premises to become breeding grounds for the aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
He said up to May, the department had opened 39 investigation papers of which 24 cases have been brought to court involving fines amounting to RM28,250.
“Construction companies must not think about profit alone. They must not neglect the responsibility of keeping their premises clear of all dangers, especially from becoming breeding grounds of the aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
“They should appoint registered pest controllers to inspect their premises at least once a week,” he said, adding that up until May, health officers found aedes aegypti breeding grounds at 27 construction sites compared with seven in the corresponding period last year.