Pahang rep wants thorough probe into death of fish

Cause for concern: A resident looking at the dead fish washed up at Sungai Tonggak, Balok.

KUANTAN: The authorities must investigate what caused dozens of dead fish to be washed up at Sungai Balok here, said Beserah assemblyman Andansura Rabu.

He urged the Fisheries Depart­ment and the Environment Department to conduct a thorough investigation and disclose the results to prevent speculation from being spread around.

Many people believe bauxite pollution caused the fish to die, he said.

“At the head of the river is the Gebeng industrial area where bauxite is stored. The public needs to know the truth, whether it is due to the dumping of waste from factories, the spilling of bauxite or even fish poisoning,” he said in a statement yesterday.

The images of the dead fish were uploaded on social media.

Pahang Fisheries Department director Adnan Hussain said the cause could be a drop in oxygen level in the water.

“From what I can see in the pictures, it does not seem like there are many dead fish, and those seen are the small ones,” he said, adding that the matter would be investigated.

Fisherman Raja Haris Raja Salim, 63, claimed pollution had also affected crabs, shellfish and freshwater fish along the river.

In Kuala Lumpur, an announcement on whether to issue a temporary halt, impose a total ban or to regulate the bauxite mining industry is expected to be made today by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

Companies involved in bauxite mining also confirmed meeting authorities in Putrajaya this week.

A mining executive wanted the Government to crack the whip on illegal bauxite miners and exporters.

Officially, Pahang only has 11 mining operators after the state revoked the licences of 34 contractors in July.

But he claimed there were as many as 50 companies exporting the ore to China. He pointed out that his company had invested millions of ringgit to mine bauxite legally.