The tiny hamlet of Pendang in Kedah has been gripped by gold fever as residents flock in droves to a quarry in search of 'shiny yellow objects'.

The stampede started after reports circulated about quarry workers in Kampung Jelutong stumbling upon gold pieces two days ago.

According to Bernama , hundreds of people with shovels and other excavation equipment have descended on the area with the hope of striking it big.

"Initially, I did not believe it but then I heard that people were already selling the gold, so I am came to try my luck as well," said Niza Samsudin, 25, from Kampung Banggol Temak.

"I have seen shiny objects which are yellow in colour wedged between the black rocks," added Niza, whose entire family has joined the quest.

'Extra income for us'

The fever has not even spared the children in the area.

Since Wednesday, 13-year-old student Amirul Anas Amirul Rashid has been shifting through the dirt with the hope of hitting the jackpot.

"At first, my parents did not give me permission to look for gold. But when I showed them what I found, my parents have also joined me in looking for more now," he said.

"We want to collect a lot of the 'gold' first before selling it," the Form One student added.

Abdul Halim Abdullah, 66, who has been living in the area for the past three decades, said this is the first time such an incident has happened.

"If it is true that the rocks contain gold, then we, who are mostly farmers, are lucky as it will give us an extra income," he added.