NEA looking into rat sighting at Junction 8

The National Environment Agency (NEA) is investigating the sighting of a rat in the food court at Junction 8 - the latest report of rat activity in a mall after several in June and July.

The rodent was filmed roaming near a counter at a teppanyaki food stall at Food Junction in the Bishan mall on Saturday.

The video, posted on the website Mothership.sg, showed three diners eating at the teppanyaki counter while the rat crawled on the floor, unseen by them. The video was shared on Facebook.

The NEA said in a statement on Wednesday: "We will take the necessary enforcement actions against any parties found responsible for rat infestation, or creating conditions favourable for harbourage or proliferation of rats."

The food court has stepped up pest-control measures, Junction 8 marketing communications manager Edith Lim said, adding that the mall is working with the food court to prevent further incidents.

Attempts by The Straits Times to reach Food Junction were unsuccessful.

Yesterday, two workers at the teppanyaki stall said they had not heard from the management on the issue. They declined to be named.

Workers at other stalls and cleaners said they had not seen rats at the food court before. Workers at three stalls told The Straits Times business was continuing as usual.

A diner at the teppanyaki stall, Ms Ashley Tay, 39, had not seen the video, but said she was fine eating at the stall as it seemed clean. But retiree Low Soh Lin, 65, said she would give a place a miss if it had a rat problem.

"Rat infestation is an NEA offence. A rat is worse than a cockroach," she said.

jkoh@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on September 23, 2016.
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