Fishing festival organisers apologise for releasing invasive Siamese catfish into Shah Alam lake

SHAH ALAM – Organisers of the Agro Selangor Fishing Festival @ Shah Alam 2026 have apologised following the controversy surrounding the release of Siamese catfish into Tasik Barat at Taman Tasik Shah Alam last Sunday.

In a statement on Wednesday, the organisers said they had released baung catfish and patin in preparation for the fishing competition scheduled for July 26, but later received feedback and clarification from the relevant authorities.

They said they were informed that the patin released had been identified as Siamese catfish, an introduced species and not a native species as they had been led to believe during the fish procurement process.

The organisers said they accepted the criticism and feedback with an open mind and took full responsibility for the oversight.

"We deeply appreciate the concern shown by all parties in ensuring the continued preservation of the Tasik Barat ecosystem," the statement said.

In line with instructions from the Selangor State Executive Councillor for Infrastructure and Agriculture, the organisers said several immediate measures would be implemented to minimise any potential impact on the lake's ecosystem.

These include installing nets at all water inlets and outlets of Tasik Barat to prevent the Siamese catfish from escaping into other water systems.

The organisers also said they would conduct a full removal operation by deploying nets across the entire lake to capture, identify and remove all Siamese catfish from the water body.

They added that any Siamese catfish caught by participants during the competition would be removed and would not be released back into the lake.

The organisers also pledged to work closely with the relevant agencies to monitor the situation and carry out follow-up measures, while strengthening their species selection procedures by obtaining technical verification from the relevant authorities before any future fish releases.

The Agro Selangor Fishing Festival @ Shah Alam 2026 is scheduled to take place on July 26 at Tasik Barat, Taman Tasik Shah Alam.

The inaugural event is jointly organised by the Selangor State Infrastructure and Agriculture Standing Committee and the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), in collaboration with Ummah Care and 1StopFishing Malaysia. It aims to promote Agro Selangor and the state's fisheries industry, while encouraging recreational activities and strengthening community ties through recreational fishing.

However, the fish release ceremony held on July 12 as a symbolic launch of the festival sparked controversy after it was alleged that Siamese catfish, an introduced species, had been released into Tasik Barat.