POLLUTION has caused the water in Malacca river to turn black and smell foul, with dead fish seen since yesterday, especially in Taman Rempah.

Malacca health and anti-drugs exco Low Chee Leong said the pollution was detected from the Batu Hampar Dam in Batu Berendam, which has been instructed to be shut down immediately  to prevent the situation from getting worse.

“We worry that the pollution will get worse and do not want a repeat of the chemical pollution in Sg Kim Kim, Pasir Gudang, Johor,” the Kota Laksamana assemblyman said.

“We have asked the Department of Environment (DOE) and the Health Department to take immediate action and get a sample of the contaminated river water and the dead fish for analysis to find out the cause of pollution and level of seriousness,” he said in a press conference at the Malacca River Cruise Jetty in Taman Rempah today.

Also present was the chief executive officer of the Malacca River and Coastal Development Corporation (PPSPM), Azlan Abidin.

According to Azlan, at midnight tonight, PPSPM will flush the water by opening the dam at the mouth of the Malacca river and ensure that the Batu Hampar Dam is closed so that the polluted water will flow out to sea.

He said since this morning, about 60 PPSPM personnel have been involved in cleaning the dam of the dead fish and rubbish.

“According to the initial information from PPSPM technical staff, the pollution water was from Batu Hampar and they are now outside the area to determine the source (of pollution). In Malim district too, the water has turned black like here and samples have been taken to be sent to the DOE,” he said.

Azlan said the PPSPM has received complaints from the public, including passengers on the  Malacca River Cruise, of the foul smell and change in colour of the river water.

He added that if the problem was not immediately resolved, PPSPM will probably temporarily close down the Malacca River Cruise operations. – Bernama, May 20, 2019.