File picture of a health worker spraying pesticide in a residential area which is suspected to be endemic for mosquitoes, in Kulim, Kedah, August 24, 2018. Malaysia Pest Management Association said Putrajaya’s diesel subsidy rationalisation has led to higher operational costs, which may cause some consumers to look for cheaper, illegal options — potentially harming their health and providing poor pest control.
Lim stated that although non-diesel alternatives like mineral oil exist, they are significantly more expensive, costing approximately four times more than diesel.“Previously before the price increase, it was RM8 for four litres. With the price increase, it costs RM13. So it’s about 55 to 60 per cent increase per load or charge,” Lim said.
The three representatives explained that while locally produced pesticides are available, the selection is limited. Developing new formulations and producing effective pesticides is a time-consuming and costly process, restricting the immediate availability of alternative options. M. Selvarajan, a committee member of MPMA, said the diesel price announcement caught business owners in the pest control industry off guard, leaving them with no time to prepare revised fee structures.
Azlan Kamal Hussein Kamal, MPMA’s deputy president, highlighted the limited flexibility pest control business operators have in adopting cost-saving measures for transportation. When working with district health offices, the use of pick-up trucks for fogging operations is mandated. “We have approached the Ministry of Agriculture , and the Pesticides Board, but they said they do not have enough manpower and wanted us to come up with proof and evidence,” Selvarajan said, adding the MPMA members had also attempted to adduce the said evidence.
They explained that the pesticides usually come with classifications such as Class 1A 1B, 2,3, and 4, and found that Class 2 and 3 level pesticides are available online.