KOTA KINABALU: The Tun Fuad Stephens Park here was suddenly abuzz with visitors, all because of the over two-metre long fish that was found dead and floating in the lake there.
The 108kg fresh water fish from the Arapaima species was believed to have been dead for a few days due to its rotting condition.
Kota Kinabalu mayor Datuk Nordin Siman said the species originated from South America countries such as Brazil.
As soon as he was informed over the discovery, Kota Kinabalu City Hall contacted Sabah Fisheries Department and University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) for further action.
“The fish has been taken by UMS Borneo Marine Research Institute to identify the cause of death and for research purposes.
“We believe the fish was released a few years ago for it to grow that big and heavy,” he said when contacted today.
Meanwhile, the institute’s lecturer Muhammad Ali Syed Hussin said the fish has been identified to be from the Arapaima species and it was not from this country.
The institute already conducted a post-mortem on the fish but found it difficult to identify the cause of death due to the fish’s decayed internal organs.
“Other than research, the bones will be assembled for exhibition and education,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sabah Fisheries Department vice-director Azhar Kassim said Arapaima fish is listed as prohibited from entering the country.
“The fish is predatory and it can destroy our rivers’ ecosystems. That is why this species is prohibited from entering the country,” said Azhar.