The Malaysian Insight

DEPUTY Chief Minister Christina Liew has urged the authorities to come down hard on blast fishing in Sabah after three people, including two Chinese tourists, were killed by one such explosion in Semporna waters yesterday.

Liew, who is also state tourism, culture and environment minister, said she is saddened by the tragedy.

“I was informed this evening about the deaths of two Chinese tourists and a local dive instructor, believed to be due to a fish bomb, in the Semporna area.

“The incident could have been avoided. The fact that blast fishing still takes place needs to be seriously addressed.

“It deeply saddens me that lives have been taken due to the irresponsible and illegal act of blast fishing. I urge the authorities, as well as officers in my department, to be extra vigilant about this and ensure enforcement within their jurisdictions so that this does not happen again,” she said in Kota Kinabalu late last night.

In the 5.50pm incident, two Chinese nationals and their dive master died after a fish bomb went off near Pulau Kalapuan.

Sabah police said they are investigating the matter, but added that no witness has come forward.

The tourists have been identified as Zhao Zhaeng Xu and Ying Jie. Details on the dive instructor have yet to be made available.

Liew said the incident goes beyond ensuring the safety of tourists on diving trips in Sabah waters.

“I call for strict penalties to be imposed for blast fishing, such as heavy fines and jail terms.” – July 6, 2019.