Anger over drinking water with faecal bacteria goes viral


Health hazard: A man collecting water from a water vending machine in Subang Jaya. - AZHAR MAHFOF / The Star

PETALING JAYA: Netizens have expressed outrage over the finding of faecal bacteria in drinking water sold from vending machines.

The reactions ranged from worry to disgust, with some sharing their bad experiences of drinking such water.

On Twitter, Leslie Chang asked about action by the Government in the wake of the findings.

“What action (will) be taken? Shouldn’t the machines be quarantined already?”

Kavilan tweeted: “This is worrying. I get my water from these vending machines”.


Alif Eccen lamented that many people he knew bought drinking water from vending machines while Handri Haron shared that he had once bought water and found ants in it.

“Bottled water from now on,” said user Shary Sam who shared the report from The Star Online with friends.

Another user, Misshka said: “This is seriously disgusting!”

Foon Weng Lian said the report had “opened a can of worms” while Michael Lam said the maintenance of these machines should have been enforced by Health officers but was not.


On Facebook, hundreds of readers shared the report from The Star. Rita Wallace said: “I would never trust (water from) those machines. I am sure they are not serviced regularly”.

Another user called on the authorities to remove the machines that were in bad condition and penalise the operators.

Related stories:

Ministry probes reports of soiled vended water

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