The Health Ministry has ordered a probe of the waters of the Kenyir Lake in Terengganu to determine the extent of alleged contamination by the E coli bacteria.

Minister Liow Tiong Lai said today the results of the tests, conducted by the ministry's officers in the Terengganu Health Department, would be known soon.

NONE " E coli bacteria is usually found in lakes, but at levels not harmful to man," he told reporters after the 9th meeting of the National Council on Food Safety and Nutrition in Putrajaya.

The media had reported that worrying levels of the E coli bacteria had been found in the lake by a study undertaken by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT).

Terengganu tourism, culture, arts and heritage committee chairperson Rahin Mohd Said had dismissed the media report, saying that it was "confusing and inaccurate".

Liow said the ministry would ensure that the sewerage system of public toilets and drains in the lake area would be managed well.

"It is feared that the water from the toilets may have entered the lake. We will find out the reason for the presence of E coli in the lake's waters," he said.

Not hazardous

Meanwhile, Kenyir lake is free of pollution and safe for recreational activities, according to UMT's Institute of Tropical Aquaculture director, Faizah Shaharom.

"Analyses of water samples showed cases of fish dying in the lake was because the water temperature had reached up to 31 degrees Celcius, which was something not unusual for lakes less than 100 metres deep.

"As for E coli bacteria, it is not at a hazardous level at the lake unlike what the media has reported," she said when met by reporters after attending an angling competition participated by 80 anglers from China at the man-made lake today.

Terengganu state assembly speaker Tengku Putera Tengku Awang had flagged off the participants.

Media reports had blamed the numerous boathouses operating on the lake for high E-coli bacteria contamination.

- Bernama