Overloaded tourist boats ordered to turn back

 

MMEA, the Malaysian coastguard, has carried out 95 operations in Terengganu waters since last Sunday. (MMEA Terengganu pics)

KUALA TERENGGANU: Eight tourist boats in Terengganu were ordered to turn back by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency after it was found that the number of passengers exceeded the number allowed on the vessels.

MMEA Terengganu director Suffi Mohd Ramli said the boats were detected during 95 inspections carried out in the waters of Besut, Merang in Setiu and the islands in the area since last Sunday.

Besides being ordered to turn back to base and reduce the number of passengers according to the number allowed, the operators of the boats involved were also given a stern warning, he said.

The boat operators were taking advantage of the school holidays by offering daily packages from Kuala Besut in Besut, Pantai Penarik and Merang in Setiu and they ignored the safety of passengers due to the high demand.

Suffi said the operations in Terengganu waters was launched to step up enforcement, especially in tourist areas such as beaches and resort islands around the state.
Such operations will be carried out every year because of increased traffic, he said. - FMT