The Malaysian Insight

THE deaths of three divers, including two Chinese nationals, allegedly due to a fish bomb in Semporna have triggered calls for the Sabah government to reimpose the ban on pump boats.

The previous state administration outlawed the use of such vessels in 2017, but the ban is believed to have been lifted by Parti Warisan Sabah after it won power in last year’s general election.

Pump boats are often associated with smuggling and blast fishing in the state’s east coast. They are also seen to be the preferred “getaway vehicle” of kidnap-for-ransom gangs operating in southern Philippines.

Tawau Umno acting chief Ghazalie Ansing rapped the federal and state governments for not adequately dealing with the threat posed by fish bombs.

“This is a serious incident. (Fish bombs) can pose a threat to not just lives, but national security.

“Blast fishing is usually carried out by people in pump boats, in shallow waters and reef areas. If the activity continues, it will hurt Sabah’s tourism industry,” he said in a statement today.

He said the state Umno demands that the authorities bring the culprits behind yesterday’s incident, which saw the two Chinese tourists and their local dive master killed off Pulau Kalapuan, to justice, and calls on the Sabah government to reimpose the ban on pump boats.

On May 23 last year, the Warisan state government said it was considering lifting the ban, especially in Sabah’s east coast districts.

These districts fall under the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone), which is patrolled by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom).

The dawn-till-dusk curfew remains in force in ESSZone, but fishing and other activities conducted at night are allowed with ESSCom approval.

Sabah Chief Minister and Semporna MP Mohd Shafie Apdal had said his administration was mulling lifting the ban on pump boats to make it easier for small-time fishermen in the east coast to earn a living.

Semporna is a globally famed diving spot visited by thousands of tourists annually.

The two Chinese nationals have been named as Zhao Zhaeng Xu and Ying Jie, while the diving instructor has been identified as 31-year-old Zainal Abdun by relatives.

A family member of Zainal who wanted to be identified only as Ray told Harian Metro that it took friends an hour to find the bodies of the three divers.

“I saw their bodies. There were no serious injuries, only blood coming out of their ears and mouths.”

The “Sabah’s Sniper” Facebook account said the use of pump boats and fish bombs is increasingly rampant in the state.

Another user, Ngah Ing, said he now fears going on diving trips as fishermen ignore the prohibition on fishing in diving areas.

In response, John Dungin said: “Pump boat users are usually Filipino illegal immigrants, they don’t care about such rules.”

Clax Silver, meanwhile, said: “Maybe we should ask the chief minister. Wasn’t he the one who said pump boats will never be a threat in Sabah? Now see what has happened.” – July 6, 2019.