KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew has called for stricter penalties to be imposed against those who conduct fish bombing activities in the state.
She said heavy fines and jail terms should be meted out to deter curb such activities, which were harmful to not only the environment but also humans.
Liew made the call following the death of three divers – a dive instructor and two Chinese tourists, who were suspected to have killed by fish bombs while diving near Kulapuan Island off Semporna.
“While I understand that this incident could have been avoided, the fact that fish bombing still prevails needs to be addressed seriously. It deeply saddens me that lives were taken due to such irresponsible act of fish bombing, which is indeed illegal,” said Liew who is the state Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister, in a statement today.
She urged the authorities to be extra vigilant and enforce the law to avoid similar incidents from occurring.
“This incident goes beyond the safety of tourists diving in the area, but areas which we consider to be a treasure to us.”
Liew said the state government would monitor developments of the incident closely and extend assistance to the Consulate General of China.
Police are investigating the case under Section 302 of the Penal Code. A boatman and his assistant, who had dropped the three divers at a diving point, were detained on Friday to facilitate investigations.
It was learnt that the boatman had gone to a jetty to take additional dive tanks after dropping the divers. After an hour, he returned to fetch the divers but found them motionless underwater with dead fish everywhere.