MELAKA, April 25 — The Melaka state government will organise a fishing competition and fish cook off as a proactive measure to tackle the fish kill phenomenon in Sungai Melaka.

Chief Minister Datuk Ab Rauf Yusoh said it would indirectly turn into a new attraction in conjunction with Visit Melaka Year 2024.

"The fish die not because of pollution and this usually occurs annually between April 21 to 23 due to significant weather changes that cause the water level of Sungai Melaka to drop and seawater to be drawn in.

"So, it’s better we do something that will benefit the people rather than letting all the fish die and rot,” he told the media after visiting the location where five tons of dead fish were found floating in Sungai Melaka here today.

He said the fishing competition and cook off will be held before April next year along the 5.4 kilometre stretch of Sungai Melaka Phase 2 till Batu Hampar, adding that it was a measure to conserve the ecology of Sungai Melaka, especially against the odour pollution caused by rotting fish.

"It’s a win-win method and we will ask Tourism, Heritage, Arts and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman to think of how to organise it,” he added.

Media outlets reported yesterday that thousands of dead fish were found floating along Sungai Melaka. — Bernama