KOTA KINABALU, Sept 27 — Authorities have been urged to clarify tourist safety measures, land status and regulatory oversight at Mengalum Island following the death of a Chinese tourist during a snorkelling activity on Sept 23.
Warisan vice-president Datuk Junz Wong said the police investigation should be allowed to take its course, but the incident also raised broader questions over how tourism activities at the island were monitored and regulated.
He said tourist safety should not rest with a single agency, calling for clearer coordination among Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK), the Sabah Lands and Surveys Department, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah (KePKAS), Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (Motac) and other relevant agencies.
“The issue is not only whether the boat operator and vessel were properly licensed.
“We must also ask whether the tourism activities and facilities at the destination itself have the necessary approvals and whether the relevant safety procedures were properly implemented,” he said in a statement.
Junz also called on DBKK to clarify its procedures for operators using its public jetty, including whether licences and approvals were verified before tourists were transported to the island.
He said any gaps between the responsibilities of the various agencies must be identified and addressed, while calling for a comprehensive inspection of operators serving Mengalum Island.
“Preventive enforcement is needed rather than action only after an incident occurred,” he said.
Meanwhile, Luyang assemblyman Samuel Wong said the status of land and tourism facilities at Mengalum should be clarified separately from the police investigation.
“To be clear, we are not saying that the land status or TOL was the cause of the tourist’s death. There must be evidence before any such connection can be made,” he said.
However, he said authorities should establish whether the land, structures, jetties and tourism facilities used by operators had the necessary approvals.
Samuel urged the Sabah Lands and Surveys Department to clarify the status of any Temporary Occupation Licence (TOL) and land occupation, while KePKAS and Motac should clarify the licensing and safety requirements applicable to the operator.
He said authorities should also determine whether tourists were given proper safety briefings, adequate safety equipment was provided and sufficient trained personnel were present to monitor the snorkelling activity and respond to emergencies.
Junz and Samuel also called for previous safety incidents at Mengalum to be reviewed to identify any recurring weaknesses.
“The death of a tourist is deeply saddening. We respect the police investigation and will not prejudge the outcome.
“But the incident must also prompt a serious review of the existing tourism safety and enforcement system. Every agency must understand and carry out its responsibility, and any regulatory or safety gaps must be addressed before another tragedy occurs,” they said. — The Borneo Post
* Editor’s note: DBKK is the abbreviation for Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu, or Kota Kinabalu City Hall, while KePKAS is the abbreviation for the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah.
