THE mystery behind scores of dead fish found floating in Tasik Permaisuri Park, Cheras, may have been solved.
A visitor was reportedly seen releasing a batch of catfish into the lake on Saturday morning, a day before a large number of fish were found floating in the lake, giving out a foul smell.
Kuala Lumpur City Hall corporate planning director Fadzilah Abd Rashid said the fish likely died as they could not adapt to the new environment.
“The maintenance and administration team did not receive any request from the public to release fish into the lake.”
Fadzilah said similar incidents happened last year, where fish reared as pets were released into lakes around the city.
Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry’s deputy secretary-general (policy), Datuk Sallehhuddin Hassan, said the Fisheries Department had collected fish samples for tests.
“We sent our officers to take samples of the lake water and fish,” he said, adding that the ministry would work with the Department of Environment on the matter.
The Fisheries Department, in a statement, said images posted on social media showed that the dead fish belonged to the catfish species.
“A team was despatched to check the site after a report was lodged by the public.”
He said the turbidity and oxygen levels in the lake were normal.
It was learned that the department had not approved any fish-breeding programmes in the park.