style="text-transform: uppercase;">Kunak: The ecosystem at the coastal waters of Pangi and Hampilan was affected by the palm oil spill which took place, last week. According to a villager of Kg Hampilan, Nurmaksud Hamsah, the biotic component such as sea worms which serves as organism for environmental ecology, were also affected.

He said they found that many of the sea worms as well as sea cucumbers and starfish at the beach had died from the pollution.

Nurmaksud added that he had informed the matter to the Tawau Environmental Department and a team from the department went to the location on Nov 9.

The department had started investigations.

He urged the authorities to act firmly in identifying the source of pollution as it has affected the economic activity in the area.

Nurmaksud said the villagers hoped that the incident would not happen again. - Ibrahim Tabir