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A TANJUNG ARU resident is preparing to relocate his poultry after being formally asked by City Hall to stop keeping chickens near his home. 

This action comes in response to complaints about the nuisance caused by the poultry in this area.

The rate-payer, who spoke out about this problem, had noticed an increase in the number of pests, including flies and rats, infiltrating her property. 

She suspected that the rodents were being drawn to the compound where the chicken coops had been set up.

This individual provided Hotline with the location of the home with the poultry. This information was forwarded to the agency.

A spokeswoman for City Hall’s Environmental Health Department (EHD) said a check was made of Jalan Serih, shortly after it was contacted by the media.

She said EHD personnel were accompanied by their peers from the Enforcement and Building Control Departments on this occasion. 

“They found two coops beside the house,” she said. 

“There were as many as five chickens on the grounds. 

“Some of the birds which were inside these structures, while others were wandering around the compound.”

The spokeswoman said the City Hall team had a word with the homeowner who was present at the time of the inspection.

“He was discouraged from continuing his rearing activities and asked to shift his chickens elsewhere. 

“He was briefed that a ‘kawasan perumahan (housing area)’ was not a suitable location to keep poultry.”

She said a notice to this affect was served to the individual.

“He agreed to move the birds away within the time allotted specified in the document.”

The spokeswoman said the area around his house was observed to be in a state of disarray. 

“Empty containers, ladders, chairs, discarded buntings, pieces of wood and bits of foam upholstery were among the various items strewn about the yard.

“A make-shift shed and shelves had also been put up along one wall of the building.”

She said the homeowner was instructed to tidy up his belongings and dispose of any which he did not want to ensure that Aedes mosquitoes did not begin breeding among these items.

“A follow-up inspection will be made after the grace-period is over to determine whether he fulfils our requests. 

“Further action can be taken against him if he fails to do so”

The spokeswoman said those who refused to comply risked being taken to court for contravening the Local Government Ordinance 1961 (Amendment 2000).

“If found guilty, they can be fined as much as RM1,000 or asked to serve jail term of up to six months, or both.”

Among the nuisances stipulated in section 49B of the Ordinance are:

•  any dust, effluvium, accumulation or deposit which is… likely to become a breeding place for mosquitoes or flies or any vermin.
•  any tank, well, pool, gutter…which is… likely to become a breeding place for mosquitoes or flies or vermin.
•  any place where there exists, or likely to exist, any condition giving rise, or capable of giving rise to the breeding of mosquitoes or flies.

When it came to the make-shift shed, the spokeswoman said City Hall’s Building Control Department was gearing up to take the appropriate action to deal with this structure.