KOTA KINABALU: The scuba diving community has expressed their gratitude to the government for its swift action in calling for Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to suspend its underwater exploration in Usukan waters off Kota Belud.
Sabah Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun had appealed to the varsity to stop its operations following concerns among divers, fishermen and the local community.
UMS had agreed to stop the work until proper consultations are being held. The university also explained that the cargo vessel in two World War 2 shipwreck sites were to be salvaged for research purposes.
Diving ambassador Clement Lee, who is the first two Professional Association Diving Instructors (PADI) directors in Malaysia, said these wrecks are of historical legacies and cannot be replaced once they were salvaged.
“Many people would think the wrecks are just pieces of mangled metals and only good for scrapped irons.
“They are time capsules, our time museum. They tell a lot of stories as we try to unveil history,” said Lee, adding wreck diving also contributed significantly to tourism industry.
Meanwhile, another scuba diver from Kota Belud Monica Chin said she would team up with other scuba divers and operators to work with the ministry to preserve the heritage.
“It is also Scuba Dive year with the ‘End in Sipadan’ campaign, which means we should keep Sabah’s underwater heritage for all the scuba divers around the world.
“The continuous attention and conservation marine protection activities by all divers and operators will help Sabah be the top dive site in Asia.”
Based on a USA shipwreck research centre record, there are 23 shipwrecks in Sabah excluding the latest sinking of a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) ship vessel KM Kuraman at Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park about three months ago.