GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government is baffled by news report of heavy metal poisoning in the waters off the state's northern coast.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said he had never heard of the matter during his tenure as chairman of the state government’s river and marine pollution task force.
“I never came across such thing during my time.
“You have to ask the current chairman of the task force, State Public Works, Flood Mitigation and Utilities committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari or State Environment committee chairman Phee Boon Poh on this now.
“I do not have the facts (about this),” he told reporters at the Che Hoon Khor Moral Uplifting Society building at Jalan Macalister here today.
Chow was asked to comment on a report by an English daily on the discovery of heavy metal pollution in the northern coasts of Penang.
The report revealed that there were very high levels of nickel, with concentrations 944% higher than normal levels in the waters off the Penang National Park.
Quoting a studies done by Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS), the report claimed that high levels of lead were also found (above 184% of normal levels) while cadmium was 32% higher than normal.
The report had also stated that the source of the pollution has not been determined but since no industrial activity and development was allowed in the Penang National Park, the only logical explanation for this pollution was that passing ships could be dumping something into the seas.
In an immediate reaction yesterday, the Tanjung Bungah Residents Association chairperson Meena Raman said the findings were highly alarming and have been found along the island’s north coast since last month and may be causing the death to marine life.
Meena had also called on the state government to convene an emergency task force with all the relevant authorities involved, to address the source of the heavy metal pollution and take all necessary measures to stop the pollution, including in alerting and warning the public about the dangers of swimming in such waters.
When contacted Zairil, said he too had "zero" idea about the pollution.
“I'll need to check on the pollution and if true, will need to determine the source,” he said.
Zairil said the state government viewed pollutions seriously and that stern action would be taken against those responsible for the pollution.
Meanwhile, when contacted Phee said he would comment on the issue later.