The government has assured that the project to rear sturgeon fish at Sungai Tebung near the Kuala Tahan National Park will not endanger the eco-system. 
 
Rural Development, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry chairman, Shafik Fauzan Sharif told Bernama that this is as it is "not a fish of prey".
 
"Instead, this fish only feeds on plankton, moss and tiny prawns. It is more
like the ikan bandaraya (suckermouth catfish) and not a fish of prey like the piranha.
 
"The sturgeon is listed as banned for import by the Malaysian Fisheries
Department because it is categorised as almost extinct and not because it is  dangerous," he is quoted as saying.
 
He added that the controversial project, a joint-venture between the Federal Land Development Agency (Felda) and a South Korean company, is awaiting a detailed environment impact assessment (DEIA) report before it would be implemented.
 
This is after the Malaysian Nature Society raised the issue with the authorities, following the clearing of land to build roads into the area where the project will be.