KANGAR: The Malaysian Foreign Fish Hunting Squad (SPIA) recorded a catch of about 75 tonnes of suckermouth catfish or ikan bandaraya throughout Peninsular Malaysia from the end of 2023 to last December. SPIA Malaysia founder Mohamad Haziq A. Rahman said the ikan bandaraya were caught through the integrated efforts of his party with various government agencies and skills institutions as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Haziq told reporters at the Sungai Perlis Inland Fisheries Resource Conservation Programme Bake With Love 4.0: 'Sinar Bawah Air' organised jointly with the National Youth Skills Institute (IKBN) Naka, Kedah in Sungai Perlis here on Saturday (Jan 3). Meanwhile, he said the organisation of the programme from 8am to 3pm was triggered by complaints from local residents regarding the dumping of foreign fish species that were affecting the Sungai Perlis ecosystem, especially ikan bandaraya. For the record, SPIA Malaysia is a community founded by anglers and land fishermen who voluntarily and actively combat ikan bandaraya, with more than 1,000 members throughout Peninsular Malaysia.- Bernama

Source: The Star January 04, 2026 01:25 UTC