The six had claimed that they were taken ill due to untreated wastewater.

In a statement today, tourism, culture and digital technology committee chairman Ariffin Deraman said the state government viewed the claim seriously and had instructed the departments involved to monitor the issue.

He said that if the claim was found to be true, it would give a negative image to the state’s tourism industry.

However, Ariffin said he understood that the state health department and the Besut district health office had not received any report on the case.

A check on food poisoning data for 2021 until yesterday also found that there was no report of food poisoning cases on Pulau Perhentian, he said.

On Saturday, FMT reported that the six friends had claimed that they suffered food poisoning and were taken ill after swimming in waters believed to be contaminated with untreated sewage at Pulau Perhentian Kecil.

All claimed to have started vomiting later that evening.