Materia Medica Malaysiana

UKM researchers: High levels of bacteria in Tasik Chini

PEKAN: Tasik Chini, the country’s second-largest freshwater lake, is contaminated with high levels of e-coli, the bacteria that may have caused rashes and diarrhoea among the orang asli living near it.

This has prompted the state government to warn the 400 villagers, including 100 children aged six and under, not to drink water from the lake and wells.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) researchers in their recent expedition to the lake found high levels of e-coli, salmonella and other bacteria, collectively known as coliform, in the 202ha lake and ground water.

There are five settlements – Kampung Gumum, Tanjung Puput, Chendahan, Melai and Ulu Gumum – on the shores of the lake, which is famous for legends of lost kingdoms and dragons.