Dirty Muda River a health hazard, says CAP

Contaminated river water is affecting the livelihood of the riverine villages, according to CAP's research

GEORGE TOWN: Fresh water fish such as patin and keli cannot be found in the Muda River anymore. The rice crop is affected and people living along the riverine villages suffer from skin diseases.

And the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) attributes all this to the toxic industrial waste- contaminated Muda River.

CAP president SM Mohamed Idris said the association research had shown that the industrial waste was from Taman Kempas industrial park in Sungai Petani.

He alleged that the industrial waste was thrown into the river by factories during rainy days to avoid detection.

As Muda River supplies some 80 percent of drinking water consumed by Penang residents, CAP is worried that it would cause serious health problems.

Idris said that a CAP study showed that hundreds of hectares of rice fields and water consumers in Penang mainland and Seberang Perai were exposed to the contaminated water.

Those facing immediate danger from the contaminated water are villages, namely Kampung Permatang Berangan, Kampung Permatang Kekondong, Kampung Jawa and Kampung Kilang Makau.

CAP study showed that at least a kilometre stretch of Muda River within Sungai Petani municipality area had become a dumpsite for the factories’ toxic waste.

Idris said rice farmers have lodged complaints to CAP that they suffered from severe skin diseases, itchiness and pimples, after being in contact with the water.

He said fresh water fish species such as patin, puyu, keli and sepat, which have existed for years in this water, were all now extinct due to the toxic waste.

“This has affected the livelihood of villagers,” he said in a statement here today.

“The problem has existed for the past five years, but the relevant authorities, especially Kedah’s environment department and Sungai Petani Municipal Council, have shown no sense of urgency.

He called on the environment department and Sungai Petani council to initiate immediate steps to resolve the water contamination problem.