Do not eat fish from the ponds and Jinjang River near the dumpsites

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong calls on the Government to investigate the state of health of the people in the Kepong constituency especially Jinjang North and the effects of pollution on vegetations and fish in the ponds and Jinjang River near the dumpsites.

Dr Tan talked to an angler who caught three big catfish (over two feet) from a pond near the Taman Beringin dumpsite on 4 November, 2005. He took about an hour for the catch.

Jinjang North has had two dumpsites for over 30 years, taking most of the rubbish from Kuala Lumpur. The dumpsite at Taman Beringin follows the closure of the site nearby. The waste gives rise to toxic chemicals such as dioxin and methane, affecting fauna and flora.

The Government says it wants to close down the dumpsite. As it is difficult to find alternative sites, dumpings continue. The leachage treatment plant has been abandoned.

The untreated leachage flows into ponds that adjoin Jinjang River. Catfish, which are bottom-feeders, thrives while other types of fish die. The angler from Myanmar and others fish in the area on Sundays and other holidays. Dr Tan has advised them against eating the fish. But, would they listen to the advice?

The Government should investigate the effects of pollution on the fauna and flora and take measures to protect people against fishing and eating fish from the polluted ponds and river. Let us clean up the ponds and river.