Club urges stricter action against fish bombing, illegal spearfishing

Sim and Monica
KOTA KINABALU (May 5): The Sabah Dive Squad Club has urged authorities to step up enforcement against rampant fish bombing and illegal spearfishing.
Its president, Sim Fui, said those destructive marine practices are a growing threat to marine ecosystems and the diving industry in Sabah.
'These destructive acts are not only damaging our marine biodiversity but also pose life-threatening risks to divers, destroy coral reefs that are vital to Sabah's tourism and the only living resources for coastal indigenous fishermen community.
'Those responsible must face the most severe legal consequences. There is no excuse for leniency when the stakes are this high.
'Sabah's ocean assets are priceless, and we cannot afford to be passive. Protecting them is not just about preserving nature — it's about securing the future of our coastal communities and sustaining a billion-ringgit tourism sector,' Sim said in a statement after the club's annual general meeting here on Sunday.
He added that fish bombing and spearfishing, especially in popular dive zones, could cripple Sabah's reputation as a premier diving destination in the region.
He also called for greater collaboration between enforcement agencies, dive operators, and conservation groups to prevent further degradation of Sabah's marine habitats.
In 2019, two China nationals and a local dive instructor in Semporna were killed by dynamite fishing while scuba diving off Semporna waters.
According to the Sabah Fisheries Department, the scuba diving industry has brought Sabah over RM500 million in income in a year.
Also speaking after the AGM, club member and conservation advocate Monica Chin shared recent alarming experiences from her dive team.
'We encountered three separate bomb blasts during just one dive session. It was terrifying. There was a day where eight fish bombings happened in a day in the same area.
'In addition, we have received reports of scuba divers spearfishing in areas like Kota Kinabalu, Sepanggar, and popular dive sites in Kota Belud.
'It is just a matter of time for divers to get injured due to spearfishing to happen and affect the diving industry,' she said.
She added that the excuse of a lack of resources or manpower to patrol and enforce the sea is no longer valid.
'During the Covid-19 pandemic, enforcement agencies managed to impose strict movement controls and monitor large areas effectively.
'That same level of coordination and urgency should now be directed at seriously protecting our asset marine environment,' she said.
Established in June 2022, the Sabah Dive Squad Club – also known as Deus Diving Club (DDC) – has grown to over 100 members from diverse professional backgrounds, united by a shared commitment to responsible diving and ocean conservation.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Star

4 hours ago

• The Star

Sim: Comply or lose labour quarters licence

BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Human Resources Ministry will not hesitate to revoke the operating licences of centralised labour quarters (CLQ) and temporary labour quarters (TLQ) if operators fail to comply with the Employees' Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodations and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446), says Steven Sim (pic). The Human Resources Minister said the warning followed a commotion involving a group of foreign workers at a TLQ operating in a hotel here on Friday, which caused unease among local residents. He said Act 446 stipulates the provision of suitable housing and basic amenities for foreign workers, but employers must also prioritise workers' welfare, safety and discipline to avoid negative impacts on the surrounding community. 'CLQs and TLQs are meant to centralise the accommodation of foreign workers so that it doesn't affect local neighbourhoods. It's very important to have this system. 'I have discussed this matter with the operators of such facilities. I've also issued a reminder to ensure workers' welfare is safeguarded and that their presence does not disturb the community. 'If they fail, I will not hesitate to instruct the Labour Department and local authorities to revoke their licences,' he said at a press conference here yesterday, Ber­nama reported. Also present were Penang local government and town and country planning committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye and Penang Labour Department deputy director A. Thanavalli. Sim said the foreign worker permits of the companies involved could also be cancelled, stressing that such actions were not meant to be punitive against industries or employers, but to ensure they understood the consequences of failing to manage their workers responsibly. He noted that the hotel in Bukit Mertajam had been approved by the Seberang Perai City Council to operate as a TLQ until 2027, and had also obtained certification from the Labour Department. A total of 1,113 migrant workers were housed at the TLQ – comprising 946 from Bangladesh, 129 from Nepal and 38 from Myan­mar. Sim said the incident on Friday night occurred when a group of migrant workers gathered outside the premises to protest against a TLQ supervisor who had allegedly collected money from them for certain purposes without the company's know­ledge. He said the case is being investigated by the police, adding that the Labour Department is also conducting checks to ensure compliance with Act 446. Earlier, the media reported that police arrested 46 foreign men following the disturbance outside the hotel used as a workers' hostel.

Barnama

15 hours ago

• Barnama

Gerik Crash: Sufea Adela's Dream Lives On Through Sister

'We provided initial support in the form of RM500 cash to help with registration and a laptop. We are also considering scholarship assistance for her tuition and living costs,' he said. Sufea Adela, 21, was among 15 UPSI students who died when a chartered bus travelling from Jertih to the university's main campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak, overturned in an accident involving a Perodua Alza on the East-West Highway. The early morning crash also left 33 individuals injured, including the bus driver and attendant, as well as the driver and three passengers of the Perodua Alza.

New Straits Times

20 hours ago

• New Straits Times

Govt warns of closure after Penang riot at workers' hostel

BUKIT MERTAJAM: The government will not hesitate to shut down any Centralised Labour Quarters (CLQ) or Temporary Labour Quarters (TLQ) found to violate regulations or mismanaged in any way involving foreign workers. This follows the recent riot involving foreign workers at The Summit building here, which led to the arrest of 46 people. Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said the government had no qualms about taking stern action. "Companies must be responsible for the welfare and discipline of their workers. "If they fail, we will not only revoke the CLQ or TLQ licence, we may also withdraw the company's foreign worker permits," he told newsmen after conducting checks at The Summit this afternoon. On the riot, Sim said the matter was now in the hands of the police. He said the incident occurred because the workers were allegedly dissatisfied with their supervisor. Preliminary reports suggested the unrest stemmed from allegations of money being collected for unclear purposes, possibly without the knowledge of the company managing the workers. Over 1,100 foreign workers are housed in the TLQ at The Summit, with the majority of them are from Bangladesh (946), followed by Nepal (129) and Myanmar (38). Eight companies have employees staying at the facility, but the riot is believed to have primarily involved workers from just one company. Sim said the TLQ at The Summit was approved by the Seberang Prai City Council in 2023, with the permit valid until Dec 31, 2027. "The operator of the facility must comply with the Workers' Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990, and obtain certification from the Department of Labour. "We support the CLQ and TLQ concept because it keeps foreign workers' accommodations organised and prevents disruption to local communities. "But if the operator fails to maintain peace and order, we will instruct the local council and the Department of Labour to revoke the licence. "Although the riot at The Summit was not targeted at the general public, video footage of the incident caused fear among local residents," he added. Sim stressed the government's commitment to balancing industrial needs with public safety. "Companies must be responsible for the welfare and discipline of their workers. "Failing that, we will take stern action, including withdrawing their foreign worker permits," he warned. Meanwhile, the operator of the TLQ at The Summit, Chew Suen Chee, said various measures had been implemented to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the foreign workers. "We took immediate action after the incident and will cooperate fully with the police in their investigation," he said, apologising for the incident.