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New Straits Times
12-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Sabah introduces new diving safety SOPs ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry has established a set of safety standard operating procedures (SOPs) for scuba diving activities in the state. The move underscores the government's commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism in the lead-up to the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign. Sabah Dive Squad Club president Sim Fui welcomed the initiative, describing it as both timely and crucial in enhancing diver safety while supporting the state's tourism industry. "Sabah is renowned for its beautiful diving spots from the state capital, Sepanggar, Kota Belud, Kudat, Lahad Datu, to Semporna. "According to the Sabah Fisheries Department, the scuba diving industry has contributed over RM500 million to the state's revenue. That figure is a significant boost to Sabah's economy. "However, it is concerning when diving accidents occur, especially those involving international visitors. Strengthening SOP compliance is essential to maintain our reputation as a world-class diving destination," he said in a statement. Sim and the committee members from the club had paid a courtesy visit to the ministry's Permanent Secretary, Datuk Josie Lai at Wisma Tun Fuad Stephens here yesterday. During the meeting, Lai had said that the ministry expressed its intention to release the SOP publicly soon and welcomed the club's support in educating industry stakeholders. In line with this, the Sabah Dive Squad Club will be organising a safety and medical talk for its members on July 20, aiming to raise awareness and reinforce best practices among divers and operators. The event follows recent incidents involving diver fatalities, some of which have been attributed to negligence. "We welcome this collaboration with the ministry and will incorporate the updated SOPs into our upcoming safety talk.
Daily Express
12-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Express
Sabah launches scuba diving safety SOPs ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026
Published on: Thursday, June 12, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jun 12, 2025 Text Size: The Deus committee - Facebook pic KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS) has introduced official safety SOPs for scuba diving to promote responsible tourism and prepare for Visit Malaysia Year 2026. Advertisement Sabah Dive Squad Club president Sim Fui praised the move as vital for diver safety and tourism growth, noting scuba diving contributes over RM500 million to the state's economy. The club met with KePKAS Permanent Secretary Datuk Josie Lai, who stressed strict compliance and upcoming public release of the SOPs. In response, the club will host a Safety and Medical Talk on 20 July 2025 to educate divers and operators, following recent fatal diving incidents linked to negligence. Dive professionals and enthusiasts are urged to participate. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
08-06-2025
- The Star
Rogue fishers still blast the depths
Explosive danger: Damaged coral beds and dead marine species are tragic reminders that the destructive practice of fish bombing remains a threat. KOTA KINABALU: Fish bombing. A mere two-word term but the destructive act, which began decades ago in Sabah, has yet to be stopped. 'It is still happening despite the increased patrols and awareness programmes held for the locals,' said Deus Diving Club (DDC) president Sim Fui. 'We believe stronger and more consistent enforcement is key. 'This includes tighter maritime surveillance in known hotspots and community-based intelligence gathering involving local fishermen and dive operators,' he said. He suggested that there be stricter penalties for offenders to serve as deterrents. Under the Fisheries Act, fish bombing is punishable with fines not exceeding RM20,000 or a jail term of up to two years or both. According to Save Our Seas Foundation, fishermen use home-made bottle bombs packed with fertiliser and kerosene, which are detonated by a fuse inserted through the top. Sim said there should also be increased funding and training for enforcement agencies such as the marine police and Sabah Parks, adding that more education and outreach programmes should be held for coastal communities to promote sustainable fishing alternatives. Sim said the DDC is a community of divers and ocean advocates concerned about the persistence of fish bombing, particularly around the west coast and the northern reefs. He said the underwater explosions, damaged coral beds, and dead marine species are tragic reminders that this destructive practice remains a threat. The dangers of fish bombing extend beyond ecological destruction as it poses serious danger to recreational divers, marine researchers, and local communities, he said. He said that sudden underwater explosions can cause barotrauma, disorientation, or even fatalities to divers in the vicinity. Ultimately, he said that protecting Sabah's marine heritage is a shared responsibility. 'We call upon all stakeholders – from authorities to NGOs to tourism operators – to work together towards a future where our oceans are safe and thriving with fish bombing a thing of the past,' he said. He acknowledged fish bombing cases are not as rampant as before. 'But we still receive occasional reports from our members and dive operators, especially in less patrolled areas,' he said. In fact, recent engagement programmes with coastal communities found that some fishermen even lost their limbs due to fish bombing. A news report six months ago said that a sea gypsy was fishing in waters off Semporna several years ago when his boat sank after a sudden blast at sea. Though his friends came to his aid, he had also lost part of his arm. His testimony was shared in a documentary on the sea people of Sabah during a conference on plastic pollution and fish bombing organised by environmental organisation Blu Hope. Previous reports by authorities show that raids on fishing vessels often lead to the seizure of explosives believed to be used for illegal fishing.
Daily Express
07-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Express
Sabah dive club to hold safety talk after recent fatalities
Published on: Saturday, June 07, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 07, 2025 Text Size: For illustrative purposes only. - Getty Images/iStockphoto KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Dive Squad Club will host a diving safety awareness talk on July 20 following several recent scuba-related fatalities locally and abroad. Club president Sim Fui said safety must always remain a diver's top priority, warning that fatal incidents often stem from neglecting basic procedures. Advertisement He cited recent cases, including a Malaysian diver who died in strong currents near Pulau Weh and two Chinese nationals who drowned in separate Sabah diving mishaps. Two experts, Dr Eugene Tan and Warrant Officer Almudi Eskal from the Armed Forces Hospital, will lead the session focusing on medical emergencies and technical diving safety. Details of the talk will be announced via the club's official Facebook page. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
07-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Divers must reinforce safety practices, says Sabah Dive Squad Club
KOTA KINABALU: Divers must reinforce best practices for safety and environmental reasons, says the Sabah Dive Squad Club. Club president Sim Fui stated that, given the recent scuba diving fatalities, they have organised a safety awareness talk to reinforce best practices among members. He emphasised that safety must always be the top priority for divers, and regular reminders, refresher courses, or awareness talks are necessary. "Every certified diver is taught the correct procedures during training, and the number one rule is always to return safely," he said in a statement on Saturday (June 7). "Unfortunately, recent incidents show that some divers are disregarding these procedures with fatal consequences," Sim added. Last week, a 33-year-old Malaysian man from Kuala Lumpur died while diving off Pulau Weh near Sabang in Indonesia, after reportedly panicking in strong undercurrents. In May, two Chinese nationals also lost their lives in separate scuba diving accidents in Sabah waters. "One was an unsupervised tourist who drowned while diving off Sipadan in Semporna, and the other, a certified divemaster, drowned after attempting to retrieve a lost camera near Kakaban Island," Sim said. "These tragic incidents could have been avoided had proper safety guidelines been followed," he added. The diving safety awareness talk scheduled for July 20 aims to prevent further loss of life and remind members of the importance of adhering to established procedures. Sim said the club has appointed two experts to lead the session: Lt Col (Dr) Eugene Tan Choon Li as scuba diving medical adviser and First Warrant Officer Almudi Eskal as technical diving adviser. Dr Eugene is an internal medicine specialist and diving medical officer at the Kota Kinabalu Regional Armed Forces Hospital. Almudi is the Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine Department Chief Supervisor at the Armed Forces Hospital and is also an Army Submarine Escape Instructor. Both will discuss medical emergencies related to diving and offer guidance on technical skills and safe diving practices, Sim said. More information about the talk will be shared on the Sabah Dive Squad Club's Facebook page.
