PBM urges Putrajaya intervention over alleged Perak river pollution

 

Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) has urged Putrajaya to intervene over alleged pollution of Sungai Perak and Sungai Rui in Gerik, Perak, claiming the state government has failed to adequately address the issue.

This comes after the waters of Sungai Perak went viral after turning blue last year and have continued to face pollution problems, despite a task force set up to investigate the matter in November 2025.

PBM environmental bureau chairperson Abdul Razak Ismail also accused government agencies, including the Environment Department (DOE), Minerals and Geoscience Department (MGD), Fisheries Department, and Health Ministry, of providing unclear information on the source of the pollution and failing to identify those responsible.

“PBM is of the view that the Perak state government has lost control in protecting the safety of rivers containing high levels of arsenic and other dangerous minerals,” he said in a statement today.

Sungai Perak turned bright blue in October 2025 and July this year. Last month, Razak (below) said Sungai Rui had turned muddy orange following heavy rain.

He told Malaysiakini that Sungai Rui, a small, fast-flowing tributary of Sungai Perak, remains orange.

According to Razak, sediment settles after the water enters the slower-moving Sungai Perak, while refraction makes it appear blue due to the presence of copper(II) sulfate.

“We are waiting for it (Sungai Perak) to turn blue now. This orange sludge is approaching Sungai Perak (from Sungai Rui),” he said.

In December, Bernama quoted Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad as saying there was no definitive explanation for Sungai Perak turning blue, nor evidence of a direct link to nearby mining activities.

“The department (MGD) has also confirmed that the Hulu Perak area is naturally rich in mineral deposits such as tin, copper, manganese, arsenic, and pyrite. Whenever it rains, these minerals can be carried into the river,” he said.

Task force findings still pending

Saarani also announced a task force to investigate the matter, saying stern action would be taken over any breach of standard operating procedures, laws, or regulations.

Razak said nearly 10 months had passed without the task force publicly releasing its findings.

He said DOE expert consultant Rani Abdullah told a public briefing at the Gerik district council hall earlier this month that arsenic and other heavy metals in the rivers were at “high” levels, but did not provide further details on their effects on fish or the safety of consuming them.

“What is clear is that thousands of fish died after Sungai Perak turned blue recently, and such incidents occur frequently,” he said.

Fishers cite worsening impact

Last week, Saarani (below) said the Perak MGD would present its findings on the water colour changes and alleged pollution in Sungai Rui to the state government this week.

Bernama reported that MGD’s technical team had been on site for two days to investigate fresh complaints from residents.

Razak claimed the pollution had affected more than 300 fisherfolk who depend on catches from the river.

“The frequent pollution has caused fish catches to plummet drastically, and it is reported that several river fish species have gone extinct,” he said.

In July, three individuals lodged police reports after Sungai Perak turned greenish-blue. Freshwater fisher Mustakim Osman, fish trader Sharel Kassim and tour guide Abdul Halim Abdullah Hamid urged authorities to identify the source of the contamination, hold those responsible accountable, and resolve the problem.

The reports were lodged less than four weeks after a state agency found that a tin mine permitted to discharge effluent had complied with environmental quality standards. - Mkini