SEREMBAN: The mysterious red liquid seen flowing in a drain and into a pond at the Lake Gardens here has been identified and it was found to be cordial syrup residue, says state health environment committee chairman S. Veerapan.

       He said checks by the state Environment Department (DOE) officers found that workers of a catering company had been carrying out cleaning and housekeeping work at a nearby hall and the wash water was released into the drain.

       "The DOE sent a team to the area earlier today after I told him of a complaint I received.

       "The officers reached the area along Jalan Taman Bunga and while walking along the drain, they saw the workers carrying out washing and housekeeping work at a hall nearby," he said in a statement.

       Veerapan said the workers had also emptied and washed several containers used to store cordial syrup while carrying out housekeeping work.

       He said the workers also told the DOE officers that a team from the Seremban City Council had paid them a visit previously, following complaints of cooking oil being released into the drain.

       "The catering company then carried out improvements by installing an oil trap to prevent a recurrence," he said.