Penangites are delighted to see the return of dolphins to the surrounding waters for the first time in about 20 years.

Video clips recorded by locals and circulated on social networking site Facebook show a school of dolphins frolicking near the second bridge project in Batu Maung.

At a press conference yesterday, state exco and Batu Maung assemblyperson Abdul Malik Abul Kassim showed reporters a version of the footage , saying he estimates the number of dolphins to be about 20.

NONE He said more dolphins were spotted near the beach in the north of the island, along Muka Head.

"Many have seen the dolphins. We know that long ago, before there was the first Penang bridge, we could see them swimming in our sea, even side by side the ferries," said Abdul Malik.

"We can say this shows that the sea water around here is getting cleaner. The dolphins are back and they seem to like our beaches."

Soft part of a hard PC

Abdul Malik was accompanied by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who smiled, saying "this is a soft part to a hard press conference later".

Lim then revealed that a RM1.6 billion loan to government-linked company Perwaja Terengganu is being written off by the Treasury Department as it had failed to make repayments for 14-17 years.

"The dolphins are returning to Penang and Abdul Malik has discovered this. We hope more will come. We must make our water cleaner," added Lim.

Over the past year, dolphins have been found washed ashore in Tanjung Bungah, on the beachfront of the heritage Eastern & Oriental Hotel and along Gurney Drive.

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