Environment Department director Norlin Jaafar said the department had taken 12 oil samples and sent them to the Chemistry Department for analysis and further investigation. The samples were procured with the cooperation of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the Malaysian Marine Department.

“The oil spill which was detected on Oct 12, polluted the coastal area for 2km, from Pantai Cermin to the Tanjung Tuan mangrove forest in Melaka,” she said, adding that an estimated 80% of the clean-up work had been completed.

“Oil dumping at sea is hard to detect because by the time it takes for the oil to reach the beach or for it to be detected by enforcement agencies, the perpetrators would have fled or covered up their act.”

Norlin also said that while the Environment Department would continue to work with other marine enforcement agencies to step up enforcement and patrols in Malaysian waters, port operators, contractors and shipping companies needed to increase monitoring in their respective areas.

“That’s why it’s vital for the public with any information about an oil spill to report it immediately to the authorities so that action can be taken to manage it before the oil reaches the beach,” she said.