Batu Ferringhi Pollution: Calls for legal action against IWK

The Department of Environment (DoE) has identified the Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) as one of the contributor to the pollution in Batu Ferringhi.

Penang State Local Government committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said this was disclosed in a report by the DoE at a state exco meeting on Feb 28.

Chow said it is now up to the authorities to take legal action against IWK as investigation papers have been submitted to them.

“The DoE has identified the reasons for the Batu Ferringhi pollution and among them are food premises, IWK, laundry and car wash activities. The DoE has also submitted the investigation papers on the issue to its legal department,” he told reporters at his office, Tuesday.

Chow said the DoE has also called on other relevant agencies to work together in solving the pollution in Batu Ferringhi as the issue was outside DoE’s jurisdiction.

Tests on water samples at Sungai Batu Ferringhi by the Department of Environment (DOE) earlier this month found it contained traces of the Escherichia coli (E.coli) bacteria.

IWK had vehemently denied it was responsible for the problem.

Reports have surfaced that the pollution was caused by discharged from its sewage plant in the vicinity.

Meanwhile, when contacted, IWK senior communications manager Shahrul Nizam Sulaiman said that IWK is unable to comment as it has not gone through the report.

"We have not seen the report, we dare not comment or make any assumptions at this point of time. Again, we would like to stress that we would work with all parties and try to resolve this matter amicably," he told Astro Awani.

He added that IWK would attempt to get a copy of the report soon.