Over 100 participants, including local residents and over 20 SDP volunteers, joined hands-on training to manage invasive fish species.
In the places where cities meet rivers and people meet nature, a quiet disruption that threatens the shared spaces humans rely on for life, recreation and resilience is unfolding.
Silent, unseen and fast-spreading invasive fish are upsetting the delicate balance of Malaysia’s freshwater ecosystems.
Their arrival may go unnoticed at first, but their impact is anything but invisible, displacing native species, disrupting habitats and threatening the natural systems that support life in and around our cities.
The challenge is most visible in our waterways: local rivers and lakes are being taken over by fast-multiplying invasive fish.
These include well-known threats such as ikan bandaraya (Amazon Sailfin Catfish), along with the Nile Tilapia, African Catfish and even guppies.
These fast-growing species outcompete native fish for food and space, while their constant feeding disturbs sediment, clouding the water and limiting sunlight needed by aquatic plants.
The result of these invaders’ actions are degraded water quality for native species, and sharp declines in local biodiversity.
Species like the Amazon Sailfin Catfish also burrow into riverbanks and man-made water bodies, damaging the integrity of aquatic landscapes—and challenging efforts to maintain clean, healthy and attractive environments in our urban communities.
Tay Yu Peng (right), one of the trainers teaching young children about one of the invasive species, java barb (Barbonymus gonionotus).
Initiating community action, training future conservation champions
Recognising the growing threat, Sime Darby Property (SDP), in collaboration with NatureTech Resources, launched a community-based programme in City of Elmina to combat invasive species, starting with the “Fish Race” in May 2025.
The Elmina Fish Race, held at the central lake, launched SDP’s multi-phase initiative to restore the ecological health of Elmina’s freshwater systems.
The event was designed to empower residents to take an active role in local conservation.
Designed and coordinated by Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Abdul Latiff Abu Bakar from Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), the programme brought together a panel of Malaysia’s leading freshwater experts.
They include Universiti Sains Malaysia’s (USM) Assoc Prof Dr Khaironizam Md Zain, Dr Sebastian Lavoué, Dr Jamsari Amirul Firdaus Jamaluddin; Universiti Selangor’s Dr Intan Faraha A. Ghani; Universiti Malaya’s Dr Muhammad Rasul Abd Halim; citizen scientist Muhammad Ilham Norhakim Lokman (widely known as Abang Ikan); as well as NatureTech ecologist Muhammad Fahmi Ahmad.
More than 100 participants, including students, families, local residents and over 20 volunteers from SDP received hands-on training in identifying and managing invasive fish species.
In a symbolic and practical step towards restoring natural balance, the participants were also given the opportunity to personally release native fish species, which were carefully selected for their adaptability and suitability to the habitat.
These fish species were chosen to repopulate the lakes and restore natural balance.
This approach helps residents foster a closer connection to their local environment, encouraging them to take practical responsibility for keeping the waterways healthy over time.
Science meets community action
SDP didn’t stop at community clean-up. Their effort was backed by detailed scientific surveys and ecological data, transforming initial community actions into a robust, successful model for controlling invasive species.
The next major step was the “Fishy Gathering 6.0” held in October 2025 at Elmina’s public park. This event was a significant milestone: for the first time, this traditionally academic conference was brought directly to the community.
Held on Saturday, Oct 4, the gathering successfully brought together fish experts, hobbyists and local residents.
The goal was simple: to share the conservation findings from the earlier scientific phase and discuss practical, next-step solutions for sustained environmental health and continued conservation.
By opening this platform to the public, SDP aspires to build a culture of learning and environmental care, and demonstrate that nature in urban areas can successfully thrive when supported by an engaged and knowledgeable community.
From passive knowledge to active stewardship
Environmental management demands a systemic, continuous approach, not a singular, corporate battle. SDP has embraced this reality by making a strategic pivot: empowering the community.
The company is actively integrating science, education and hands-on action to foster a new generation of conservation champions among residents.
The goal is to furnish residents with the attitude, knowledge and skills necessary to maintain healthy, biodiverse urban ecosystems.
This proactive stance establishes a new benchmark for development. It demonstrates a belief that true resilience is built when developers spearhead environmental conservation, ensuring communities and nature do not just coexist, but genuinely thrive.
