An elderly couple has died after eating poisonous pufferfish in Malaysia, prompting an appeal from their daughter for stronger laws to prevent others from suffering the same fate.
Ng Chuan Sing, 84, and his wife Lim Siew Guan, 83, had no idea they were eating something that contained deadly toxins, according to their daughter Ng Ai Lee.
Ng Chuan Sing purchased the pufferfish from a fishmonger who visits their village weekly in a van on Saturday 25th March 2023, when there were only a few selections left. Despite having never heard of pufferfish or “drumstick fish” as it is known in Chinese, Ng Chuan Sing proceeded to buy it from the fishmonger, whom they had been buying fish from for many years.
Lim Siew Guan fried the fish for lunch on the same day and began experiencing breathing difficulties and shivers while her husband started showing similar symptoms about an hour later, according to authorities in the southern state of Johor.
The couple was rushed to the hospital and admitted to the intensive care unit. Lim was pronounced dead at 7 p.m. local time.
Ng Chuan Sing fell into a coma but his condition worsened and he died on Saturday 1st April 2023, Ng Ai Lee said during a press conference at the couple’s home.
Ng Ai Lee demanded accountability for her parents’ death and called for stronger laws in Malaysia, where at least 30 species of pufferfish are commonly found in surrounding waters.
Malaysian law prohibits the sale of poisonous and harmful food like pufferfish meat and the offence carries a fine of RM10,000 (£1,800 GBP or $2,300 USD) or a prison term of up to two years.
Despite the dangers, poisonous pufferfish are sold at many Malaysian wet markets, experts said. “It’s considered exotic and tends to attract consumers,” said Aileen Tan, a marine biologist and director at the Universiti Sains Malaysia Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies.
“There needs to be more awareness about the risks of consuming puffer fish – maybe authorities need to look at special certifications for vendors and suppliers,” she said.
“Once pufferfish have been cleaned and sold as slices, it is nearly impossible for the public to know the type of fish that they purchased.”
