Dengue cases have been rising over the months and the people are worried over the alarming rate.

For the first six weeks of this year, there were 18 deaths, according to the Health Ministry.

From Jan 1 to 17, 3,211 cases were reported nationwide, compared with 1,514 cases in the same period last year.

Although the people have to play their role to fight dengue, it is also the Penang state government’s responsibility to help in this matter. There should be more campaigns to fight the disease.

The State government should also co-operate with the federal government.

When the Barisan Nasional was in power in Penang, the state government instructed all its MPs and State Assemblymen to mobilize the people to take part in anti-dengue campaigns, go on house to house visits to educate the residents and to check mosquito breeding places. The local authorities including the Penang and Seberang Prai municipal councils were asked to increase fogging on the affected areas.

“We even distributed free abate to the people to prevent the breeding of aedes mosquitoes.”

The state government should not play politics but focus on helping the people.