{
  "id": 7289228,
  "title": "Sewage turns Redang waterway black, foul-smelling",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/sewage-turns-redang-waterway-black-foul-smelling-7289228",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-14T08:48:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/09/1532680/sewage-turns-redang-waterway-black-foul-smelling"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pulau Redang, a popular tourist destination in Malaysia, faces an environmental issue at Pantai Panjang, where a once-clear waterway has become black and emits a foul odor. The pollution is thought to be caused by sewage overflow from nearby resorts, which flows into a drainage channel and may eventually reach the sea, especially during high tides and rough monsoon conditions. Inspections revealed that resort operators' sewage systems lacked proper treatment facilities and holding tanks were not considered a wastewater treatment method. Previously, the waterway served as a source of clean water and a bathing spot for local villagers. However, things have changed drastically in recent years. Hamzah Mohamad, director of the Terengganu Department of Environment, confirmed that the holding tanks used in the area are not a sewage treatment method and that every facility must have its own treatment system meeting prescribed standards. Razali Idris, chairman of the Terengganu Tourism, Culture, Environment, and Climate Change Committee, said wastewater discharge from resorts in the area has been an ongoing problem for several years, despite efforts to address it. He also mentioned that the state government had allocated RM100,000 to temporarily divert the water flow, but the issue has resurfaced. A contractor has offered to invest in building and managing a sewage treatment plant, which could comprehensively and effectively tackle wastewater discharge from resorts around Pantai Panjang. A resident, Maarop Ismail, urged all parties, including resort operators, to prioritize preserving Redang's environment over making profits from the tourism sector. The developer has reportedly agreed to bear RM5.7 million in costs to build the sewage treatment plant on government reserve land at Pantai Panjang, pending state government approval and the exchange of land.",
  "summary": "KUALA NERUS: Behind the pristine beauty of Pulau Redang, one of the country’s renowned tourist destinations, lies a growing environmental concern at Pantai Panjang, where a once-clear waterway has turned black and emits a foul odour.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Sewage turns Redang waterway black, foul-smelling",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/sewage-turns-redang-waterway-black-foul-smelling",
        "published": "2026-09-14T08:48:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}