KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 9 -- When most people were grappling with boredom during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 and 2021, Mohamad Haziq A Rahman decided to kill time by fishing at a stream near his home in Banting, Selangor.

The stream originated from the Langat River, once a thriving ground for native fish species such as patin and baung.

The 38-year-old content creator kept angling for some of these prized fish in the river for several weeks.

But each expedition led to the same outcome: hauls of suckermouth catfish or ikan bandaraya.

The suckermouth catfish, known for its specialised suction-cup mouth and armoured body, is originally a tropical freshwater fish from South America.

Now, it has emerged as an invasive species driving local f...