Tourists exercising caution at Batu Ferringhi

Tourists are exercising caution at Batu Ferringhi which is believed to have been affected by an Escherichia coli (E.coli) outbreak.

On Monday, a part of the sea water off the popular beachfront had turned black allegedly due to contamination by sewage wastes.

A section of the beach has also collapsed due to erosion.

Deputy Director Tourism Malaysia Penang Haryanty Abu Bakar said that they have received several complaints, mainly from foreign tourists.

“It affects tourism especially the beach operators and hotels nearby. This is not the first time it has happened but it is the most severe,” she said, adding that state agencies should come together to resolve the incident.

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“The enforcement should be taken by local state authorities like the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage. Tourism Malaysia will give full support to the local authorities to overcome the issue.”

For now, tourists are avoiding the polluted area but it has yet cause a big effect to the tourism industry on Batu Ferringhi because tourists arrival have decreased since the Chinese New Year holidays are over, she added.

The pollution on the beach is believed to have originated from a sewage pipe in Sungai Batu Ferringhi which is located about a kilometre away from the river mouth.

The Department of Environment on Monday took water samples from the river and confirmed the presence of the e-coli bacteria in its initial test.

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