Operation gets thumbs up from China.

Monday, February 27, 2017. 

Op Mengalum

It will ensure boat operators prioritise safety of tourists

Olivia Miwil

KOTA KINABALU

olivia@nst.com.my

A special operation, which was launched to ensure boat operators in the state capital prioritise the safety of tourists, received good feedback from the China representative here. 

Chinese consul-general Chen Pei Jie was referring to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency's Op Mengalum launched on Feb 18. 

The operation involves more than 100 personnel and five assets. 

It will look into boat licenses, passengers embarkment and disembarkment, availability of life jackets, loading capacities and boat designs, among otthers. 

Last month, a catamaran bound for Mengalum island, with 28 China tourists onboard, capsized. 

Four perished, while another four are missing. 

"The incident is a tragedy, but we have learnt our lesson. 

"The state government and authorities have put in efforts to enhance facilities to ensure safer vacations, and to prevent accidents," Chen said on Saturday. 

She hoped the tragedy would not affect the state's tourism industry. 

She said this at a press conference here for a Hong Kong movie, currently being filmed in the state for two weeks as of last Thursday. 

She hoped the movie, titled "She will be loved" , which highlighted Sabah's nature and culture, would promote the state to the people of China and Hong Kong. 

She said the consulate would continue to put up notices on its website to remind visitors to be mindful in subscribing to packages from illegal tour operators. 

However, Chen said none of the tourists on the capsized boat had purchased their tour through an unregistered channel. 

"The victims are saddened as they are the ones who are suffering, although they had bought tour packages through a proper channel. 

"None of them knew that the (Tanjung Aru) jetty was an illegal jetty, and that the boat had exceeded its capacity."

On Tuesday, the magistrate's court here will mention the case of the owner of the boat, Leong Vin Jee, who had pleaded guilty to ferrying people on water transportation in unsafe condition.