The Penang government has made no decision to close the Batu Ferringhi beach as it is awaiting a report from the Department of Environment (DoE) on the level of E.coli bacteria in the sea water.

The state executive councillor in charge of agriculture, health and rural development, Dr Afif Bahardin (left) , said the beach would be closed only if the level or concentration of the bacteria is high or harmful.

Afif noted that the bacteria is found "everywhere" when there is lack of hygiene, for example, in eateries during the preparation of food and drinks.

He urged Deputy Health Minister Dr Hilmi Yahya, who had proposed that the beach be closed, not to politicise the matter just to find ways to put the state government in a bad light.

"As a doctor, Hilmi should make his statements based on evidence and facts. Be an evidence-based politician and seek truth from facts," Afif said in response to Hilmi’s suggestion last Saturday.

"If Hilmi thinks he can politicise this issue to hammer the state government, we do not feel threatened at all. This is an environmental issue.”

Hilmi (right) said the pollution, highlighted since last Monday, would affect the image of Penang as a tourist destination. However, he also noted that there has been no report of a rise in diarrhoea cases in Penang.

Afif chided Hilmi for not being more concerned about the source of the pollution, which the state government has traced to waste discharge by Indah Water Konsortium (IWK).

However, IWK countends that its discharge is not harmful and urged the Penang government to stop the blame game .

"Hilmi should (tell) IWK to upgrade its facilities instead of targeting the state government," Afif said.

Committee formed

The DoE said yesterday that water samples collected last Tuesday had faecal coliform and E.coli readings at a staggering 16,000cfu (colony forming unit, or estimate of viable bacterial or fungal numbers) per 100ml.

The numbers exceed the permissible Marine Quality Criteria and Standards for a recreational beach, the New Straits Times (NST) reported today. The permissible number is 100mpn (most probable number) per 100ml.

However, the numbers have dropped drastically following the clean-up carried out by the Drainage and Irrigation Department since last Wednesday, the NST report said.

Afif said the state government was monitoring the situation and had formed a committee to act on any emergency.

The committee comprises Deputy Chief Minister I Rashid Hasnon and state exco members Chow Kon Yeow (local government and traffic maanagement) and Phee Boon Poh (environment, welfare and caring society).