TASHNY SUKUMARAN The Star 28 Feb 15;
PETALING JAYA: Anyone caught spreading or transporting the eczema-causing weed Parthenium hysterophorus into or across Malaysia risk facing a RM10,000 fine or two years’ jail or both.
The species has been declared as a noxious plant under the Plant Quarantine Act 1976 by the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry on Wednesday.
Under the Act, a noxious plant cannot be cultivated, kept or imported. Those who find the plant on their land should destroy it by fire or other methods stipulated by the relevant authorities.
The authorities are empowered to enter the land where the plant grows and destroy it, and recover any expenses incurred from the owner or occupier of the land. Those who contravene these directives can be fined up to RM10,000.
Agriculture Department director-general Datuk Ahmad Zakaria Mohd Sidek said that the plant was declared as a noxious weed to enable the authorities to control its spread.
“We can enter private premises to take care of the weed, as well as improve quarantine measures,” he added.
P. hysterophorus, which is found in every Malaysian state except Sarawak, Terengganu and Kelantan, is being held at bay by herbicides.
The Star first revealed that this weed was sweeping the nation last December, with people in parts of Kedah reportedly suffering from itchy red rashes.
A highly-allergenic plant, P. hysterophorus or ‘congress grass’ can cause severe skin disease and hay fever.
It is also toxic to livestock such as goats and cows, causing fevers, ulcers, anorexia and intestinal damage.
It can quickly replace native flora by releasing toxic substances, causing massive crop loss – leading to it being dubbed ‘the worst weed of the century’.
In a media release, the Agriculture Department advised the people to destroy the weed in its early stages before it flowers and produces seeds.
Those staying in residential areas can use salt water in a 1:4 ratio of salt to water to destroy the weed.
Similar in appearance to ulam raja, some Malaysians have cultivated the weed for its delicate white flowers, leading to its propagation.
