The Malaysian Insight

TWO tourists from China and a Malaysian dive master were killed after a fish bomb exploded near them while they were diving off an island in Semporna on Sabah’s east coast.

Sabah Police Commissioner Omar Mammah confirmed the incident when contacted but added that investigations had yet to determine whether the fish bomb was the cause of death.

“There were no witnesses who said they heard any explosion. We are still investigating the incident,” he said. 

The 5.50pm incident occurred near Kelapuan Island, where the dive master and the two Chinese nationals had gone diving.

News of their deaths instantly triggered calls among Sabah social media users for authorities to stamp out the illegal practice of fish bombing, which is said to be rampant throughout the state’s waters.

Offenders face a RM20,000 fine or a maximum of two years in jail, or both, upon conviction under the Fisheries Act. 

These are not the first deaths caused by fish bombs.

On March 22, police said a 16-year-old boy was killed off the waters in Pulau Gaya in Kota Kinabalu, after the boat he went fishing on hit a fish bomb and detonated it. 

The diving industry is estimated to generate around RM220 million to the Sabah economy annually. – July 5, 2019.