Something 'fishy' (although 'mammaly' would be a more apt term) is going on in Port Dickson.

While the coastal town is accustomed to foreigners thronging its shores, news reports today claimed that visitors of a different kind have got tongues wagging in excitement.

And no, it has nothing to do with the upcoming Bagan Pinang by-election or the influx of politicians either, but rather an encounter with creatures of the deep.

Both Nanyang Siang Pau and Sin Chew Daily reported that a school of whales have been spotted by locals, leaving jaws agape with surprise.

It is believed that the first of its kind incident could be related to the earthquakes in Sumatra and the southern pacific.

'They were playing around'

One of the eyewitnesses quoted was a 36-year-old contractor identified only as Zamli, who chanced upon the whales when having tea at a food court along the beach.

He said the mammals were some 1.5km away from shore. "First I thought it was just some big fish, but when I looked closer, I realised they were whales."

According to him, there were more than 10 whales, and they appeared to be having a whale of a time in the water.

"They looked like they were chasing each other and playing around," he told Sin Chew , adding that this is the first time he had seen whales in Port Dickson.

Other locals told Nanyang that apart from the whales, they also saw several dolphins close to shore.

Fisherman Su Ya Wah, who is also the Kuala Lukut village head, said while dolphins in Port Dickson were not unusual, whales were definitely a rare sight.