GEORGE TOWN: A contractor has been slapped with an immediate stop-work order after being suspected of causing the pollution at Sungai Pinang and Sungai Jelutong.

       Penang Island City Council (MBPP) said an investigation found that the source of the pollution was traced to the contractor doing horizontal drilling to lay underground cables along Jalan Terengganu and Jalan Hamilton in George Town.

       "The work has been found as the cause of the serious pollution at Sungai Jelutong and Sungai Pinang due to dumping of bentonite waste into the drainage system that leads to the rivers," the MBPP said in a statement.

       The statement said MBPP has also issued a show-cause letter dated Dec 14 to the contractor, who was also ordered to conduct immediate cleaning work until the situation at the site is found to be satisfactory.

       The contractor had been given three days to respond or face possible court action.

       The statement said MBPP takes pollution seriously and stern action would be taken against any responsible party to prevent further pollution in the future.

       Earlier, several technical departments from the council led by mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang made a site visit to conduct an investigation on the issue of pollution at the rivers.

       The visit was made after a video of the river pollution was viral on social media.