Fishy deaths alert residents of river pollution

GEORGE TOWN: The source of pollution of Sungai Dondang in Paya Terubong here has been narrowed to two outlets, a vegetarian food processing outfit and a laundromat.
The investigation comes after residents nearby reported scores of dead fish near the river banks over the past few days.
Penang local government committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said there will be no compromise in taking action against businesses polluting the river which is a tributary of Sungai Pinang.
He said the Penang Island Municipal Council was taking the matter seriously and will act accordingly against those responsible for discharging pollutants into the river.
He felt sad marine life had died and urged the public to take on the responsibility to ensure rivers remained clean.
He called on village development and security committees to keep watch on polluters.
"They can help us stop pollution," he told a press conference after a visit to the river today.
The Penang Drainage and Irrigation Department has taken river water samples for testing with the results to be known in about two weeks.
The fish deaths came after Chow celebrated the presence of otters at Sungai Pinang on his Facebook page recently.