Teluk kalong: The Teluk Kalong beach has been polluted with oil slicks believed to be remnants of oil from ships anchored not far from the beach since Monday. Fisherman Nazri Said, 52, reported the pollution after observing an oil slick two kilometers off the coast while preparing to go fishing at 4 am that day.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Nazri also discovered dozens of dead fish and squid floating near the beach. "I was shocked when I stepped on the oil residue when approaching my boat to go out to sea to catch fish. The stain is believed to be semi-solid lubricating oil or grease that was dumped from ships anchored near this beach," he stated when speaking to reporters.

Another fisherman, Mohamad Hasnam Khalid, 55, expressed that such oil residue had never been observed on the beach before. "Coastal fishermen in this area complained when their catch was spoiled after the area was contaminated by the stain," he noted.

Meanwhile, Terengganu Department of Environment (DOE) director Hamzah Mohamad indicated in a statement that his team received a report on the three-kilometer coastal area pollution last Monday. "Seawater and sand samples were taken at the scene and sent to the Malaysian Department of Chemistry for analysis. The Department of Marine Affairs has also contacted the Kemaman Branch of the Malaysian Marine Department to obtain a list of ships anchored around Teluk Kalong beach for further investigation, and investigations were also carried out at the Kemaman Port reclamation project site located nearby," he explained.

Hamzah added that cleanup work for the oil spill would commence soon, involving multiple agencies under the coordination of the Kemaman Municipal Council.