PETALING JAYA: The organisers of the Selangor Agro Fishing Festival @ Shah Alam 2026 have apologised following public backlash over the accidental release of invasive Siamese catfish into Tasik Barat at Taman Tasik Shah Alam last Sunday (July 12).
In a statement on Wednesday (July 15), the organisers explained that the predatory, non-native fish were released as part of an opening ceremony gimmick ahead of a July 26 fishing tournament. They blamed the mistake on incorrect information provided during the fish procurement process.
"We accept all criticisms with an open heart and take full responsibility for the oversight," the organiser stated, thanking the public for their environmental vigilance.
Following directives from the Selangor State Infrastructure and Agriculture Executive Committee, the organisers are taking immediate steps to safeguard the lake's ecosystem. They are netting off all water inlets and outlets to contain the fish, conducting a lake-wide netting operation to remove the catfish, and ordering tournament participants to permanently remove any Siamese catfish they catch.
Moving forward, the organisers will work with state authorities to monitor the lake and implement stricter procurement screening, including mandatory technical verification from relevant agencies before any future fish releases.
The inaugural festival is jointly organised by the Selangor State Infrastructure and Agriculture Standing Committee, the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), Ummah Care, and 1StopFishing Malaysia to promote local agro-tourism.
