Ipoh: The thousands of dead black tilapia found in Sungai Kinta on June 30 are believed to have been dumped into the river by irresponsible parties, and not to have originated from its natural habitat.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Perak Science, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Teh Kok Lim stated that an investigation conducted with the Department of Environment (DOE) and the state Fisheries Department found that the fish most likely came from a fish farm. He mentioned that the dead fish appeared uniform and were not wild river fish, which led to the suspicion that they were dumped into Sungai Kinta rather than dying naturally due to pollution.

Teh Kok Lim also noted that water quality test results carried out by the DOE showed readings within a good range, with no signs of pollution that could have caused the sudden death of aquatic life. He conveyed this information while speaking to reporters after launching the Perak Fisheries Department's alien fish hunting programme at Taman DR Seenivasagam.

Meanwhile, Perak Fisheries Department director Mohd Ghazali Manap said immediate action had been taken to remove all the dead fish from the affected area. He emphasized that this swift action was crucial to prevent secondary pollution and minimize the impact on other aquatic life. Furthermore, he added that further investigations are ongoing to identify the individuals or parties involved in the incident.