RATS! RATS! RATS! — THEY RULE THE BACKLANES OF SS15!

Small, medium, large and EXTRA LARGE — SS15 has them all. No, we’re not talking about coffee orders or T-shirts. We’re talking about rats. Big, fat, brazen rats.

In this SJEcho Special Report, our team of photographers took a drive through the back lanes of SS15 – long known as one of the dirtiest corners in the township and it didn’t take long before the “stars” of our investigation came out to play.

Even before our vehicle came to a stop, rats were seen scampering across the road, darting along the five-foot ways, and digging into open piles of rubbish. In just half an hour, we spotted (and photographed) the “cutest,” “biggest,” and arguably “ugliest” residents of SS15’s rat kingdom.

They emerged from cracks in the drains and burrowed holes along the walkways, disappearing into stairways and back doors the moment they sensed human movement. What was truly alarming? Spotting little furry feet peeking from beneath the shop shutters – a telltale sign that these rodents have made themselves very comfortable indoors.

A passerby Anne who noticed our team in the back lane lamented “SS15 is a makan hub… dare not imagine if utensils or food get tainted by the rats.””

What’s Attracting Them?

Let’s be clear. The rats aren’t here by accident. The back lanes of SS15 are a buffet line for pests, thanks to overflowing rubbish bins, uncovered food waste, and poor housekeeping habits.

While some food operators do take the effort to pack their trash neatly, the problem lies in the bins themselves. Too small, too few, and often so overloaded the lids can’t even close. That’s practically a dinner invitation for rats.

When lids stay open and trash piles up, it’s only a matter of time before the rodent population explodes. And explode it has.

A System in Decay

In our October edition, we laid bare the “rotting reality” of SS15, a once-vibrant business hub now slipping into urban decay. The situation hasn’t improved.

The truth? It doesn’t take an engineer or a health inspector to figure out what’s gone wrong here. Lackadaisical shop owners, poor waste management, and lax enforcement by the authorities have created the perfect storm for an infestation.

SS15’s back lanes have become a living, breathing ecosystem for pests – rats, cockroaches, and all things foul.

Until decisive action is taken from stricter enforcement to regular cleaning, proper waste disposal, and community accountability the rats will continue to rule the alleys of SS15.

And as it stands today, they seem to be running the show.