Dead Fishes By The Thousands 26.10.2007

View YouTube version click here (Thousands Of Dead Fishes In Lake).

Picasa Web Album: Thousands Of Dead Fishes In The Lake

Latest development in Taman Mutiara Puchong has definitely been very interesting. Now I think the we as residents can consider renaming TMP temporarily to Kampung Nelayan Mutiara Puchong as the foul smell eminating from the westside lake due to the thousands of floating dead fish carcasses is reminiscent of a fishing village, well at least for me anyway as I am a avid angler and have frequented many fishing villages thought of course the smell is not as strong I must say as compared with what I am experiencing at this moment as I am blogging this post.

Yes, you are right I am able to smell it from my very own living room approximately 40 house length from where my house is located from the lake. Did we expect this to happen? I do not want to be a real smart arse here but after witnessing so many lorries dumping wastes as well as gossip from neigbours and fellow residents of illegal chemical waste discharge nearby to phase 3A I am incline to state that I did expect this to happen and primarily for logical reasons I am putting forth below:

1. This is not the first instance of dead fishes documented as the first incident was recorded by a fellow resident approximately less than 6 weeks ago, but the number of fishes surfaced at that time was not deemed too excessive though serious enough in nature. Please refer to this article for the very first documented article in the star online of illegal dumping incident prior to this day (Title: "A Lovely Lake Gone To Waste") take note the date published JULY 5th 2007.

2. Dumping of waste after the article was published apparently did not stop as recently documented TV3 Bulletin Utama dated 17th October 2007 clearly showed in daylight and captured/recorded live by the TV3 news crew showing dumping (Bulletin Utama TV3 17.10.2007).

3. Photos posted to the Picasa web album also indicated proof of continious dumping in plain sight of residents and the general public in broad daylight documented on August 22nd 2007.

4. Unrecorded dumping that happened during the night of possibly more toxic wastes? This hypothesis cannot be ruled out because since dumping in broad day light can happen how about during the night? Interesting is it not?

So my point to the local authorities especially the enforcement division of related government agencies with jurisdiction over this area and matter is, how come since July 5th 2007 of the first reported incident of dumping until October 17th 2007 and possibly as recent as October 24th 2007 the day the fishes started dying, allowed the dumping of wastes into the lake to continue? Not enough enforcement officers? Miscommunication? Or just pure ignorance until something serious happens then only act? Sounds familar? Bus operator case? Rape case in shopping centres before compulsory installation of CCTV system? Latest being the ferry incident in Langkawi? What is next?

Imagine more than 3 months passed (90 days) of dumping? How many lorries do you think per day? Let us just assume conservatively a total of 20 lorry load per day for 90 days? How many lorries and type of wastes have already gone in? Imagine 20 X 90 = 1,800 lorry loads, this is conservative as I have seen, it only takes less than 5 minutes per load to be offloaded in the lake with my own eyes and I have seen easily 5 lorries emptying their loads within 20 minutes of me standing at the bank of westlake side in Phase 3A. So you can estimate what should be the actual figure!

I am just dissapointed at the slow pace of our public delivery system by local authorities, not justifiable of a developing nation like Malaysia. Government agencies should work efficiently and effectively to serve the people of this great nation. My only advice is please practice proactive mindset and to look into prevention rather than a cure. I believe I am not the only person to suggest this many in the past have done and even our current PM have reiterated the importance of an efficient and effective public machinery system to serve the "RAKYAT". With pay increases and bonuses for all government officers as well as government servants how come we have to continue to deal with these inefficiencies? I do not expect over night change but come on 90 days and flood for people to take notice? Ridiculous?

What is next? Wait for a minor to fall into the lake and drown before we see more efficiency from relevant authorities? Imagine whose head/s will roll then? Definitely not mine as I have done my part as a responsible "RAKYAT" to make known publicly to the community their rights and to fight for their basic rights as home-owners and to approach the relevant authorities for assistance.

MALAYSIA BOLEH?