The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) urges the state government and the Department of Environment (DOE) to investigate and take prompt action to address the pollution problem in Sungai Tiram near Bayan Lepas following the death of thousands of fish which were found floating on the surface of the river yesterday.

CAP’s survey along 2km stretch of the river until the jetty in Permatang Damar Laut found dead fish such as belanak, gelama and duri, victims of the river pollution. The floating dead fishes which filled the surface of the river shocked passers-by.

This problem is not the first to occur here. There have been similar incidents which had killed a lot of fish in the river. Besides threatening the source of income of 200 fishermen in Permatang Damar Laut, the river pollution is also affecting the fishing activities by the local community here.

CAP understands from the affected fishermen that the river water frequently changes colour to black and is also oily. The pollution spreads from the river to the sea, endangering the fish and prawns that are the main source of the fishermen’s catch.

The Sungai Tiram pollution issue was submitted to the state government and the DOE a long time ago but until now no effective action has been taken. CAP believes that if this problem persists, not only the environment will be seriously threatened in the future, even the fishermen who depend on the catch at the river and nearby sea will lose their livelihood.

CAP is dismayed with this problem and hopes that the investigation to identify the cause of the incident is done immediately by the City Council of Penang Island (MBPP), DOE, Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) and the Department of Fisheries in addition to taking stringent legal action on the polluters.

CAP also recommends that the Penang state government and the Department of Fisheries conduct a survey and assessment of the extinction and decline of fish catch by local fishermen who suffered as a result of the pollution. Adequate compensation should be given to the fishermen here to ease their financial loss.

SM MOHAMED IDRIS is president, Consumers Association of Penang (CAP).