In a bold move to combat rising rodent infestations, Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) is offering RM2 for every rat caught as part of a city-wide campaign, which runs until 31 July 2025.
This initiative is part of a broader nationwide effort involving 10 local authorities under the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.
According to The Star, DBKK has been chosen to represent Sabah in the campaign, which aims to tackle rat problems particularly at public markets — hotspots for infestation.
Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah said the campaign is also focused on achieving a Rodent Index of one or below.
The Rodent Index is a scientific tool used to estimate rodent population levels, calculated using data from live traps set over a seven-day period.
Not their first rat rodeo
DBKK has conducted similar operations before. Last year, 1,299 rats were exterminated, and between January and June 2024, another 775 were terminated.
This year alone, 528 have already been caught, including 111 just from the Central Market.
Sabin said the campaign aligns with DBKK’s vision of making Kota Kinabalu a clean, safe, healthy, and liveable city for all.
It also aligns with both the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the Malaysian government’s National Healthy Malaysia Agenda.
Cash prizes, clean stalls, and community support
The programme isn’t just about rat catching. It also includes communal clean-up efforts, a cleanliness competition among stall owners, and a rat-catching contest with cash rewards.
DBKK is using a combination of physical, mechanical and chemical methods based on national rat control guidelines.
During the campaign launch, visitors were treated to educational exhibitions and brochures focused on environmental health.
Sabin also called on local traders to register as Smart City Friends — a move aimed at strengthening DBKK’s partnership with the business community.
Public health at stake
More than just an eyesore, rats pose serious health threats. Sabin highlighted the risk of leptospirosis — a potentially deadly bacterial infection spread through contact with water or food contaminated by rat urine.
Controlling the rat population isn’t just a matter of city cleanliness, it’s a public health priority,” he stressed.
Everyone has a role to play
To succeed, DBKK is calling on full cooperation from the public. “We cannot do this alone,” said Sabin.
He urged everyone — from traders to visitors — to dispose of waste properly, keep stall areas clean, and report any signs of rodent activity to the authorities.
So if you’re in Kota Kinabalu and happen to see a rat, now’s your chance — catch it, help clean up the city, and earn RM2 while you’re at it. Just make sure to do it before 31 July!
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