Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is offering a reward of RM1 for each rat caught in the city in its effort to tackle rat-borne diseases, especially leptospirosis.

Its director-general Datuk Salleh Yusup said DBKL was allocating RM50,000 annually for the purpose, including making available rat traps to the public for free.

"DBKL has given the Pest Control Unit under its Public Health and Environment Department a target of ridding the city of 50,000 rats annually with the allocation," he told reporters after launching a community programme under the "Rid KL of Rodents 2013" initiative here Saturday.

He said last year, DBKL succeeded in getting rid of 51,110 rats while in the first seven months of this year, the figure was 32,769 (rats).

On another matter, Salleh said DBKL, for the first time, was also offering a reward to the individual flying the biggest and brightest "Jalur Gemilang" (National Flag) in conjunction with the 56th Merdeka Day.

"DBKL will crown the champion at the Merdeka celebration in the city on Aug 31. However, the prize has not been decided yet," he said.