Quick action by tour guide saves six from drowning in Semporna
Prior to the 8.30am incident, the tourist vessel carrying nine visitors - a Malaysian man and seven women from Peninsular Malaysia and a Swiss woman - had departed from the Semporna public jetty and were heading to Mabul Island.
The passenger boat had departed from Kg Hidayat, Bum-Bum Island towards Semporna town when the crash happened, said Semporna acting OCPD Deputy Supt Jaafar Hakim.
According to him, the accident near a floating resort caused slight damage to the left front part of the tourist vessel, while the wooden passenger boat sustained damage to its front area.
'The six villagers aged between 30 and 40, fell into the sea but the quick action of the tourist guide and others from the other boat, managed to pull them all to safety,' he said.
DSP Jaafar said the rescued villagers comprising four men and two women were sent to the jetty before the tourist vessel continued its journey to Mabul Island.
He said while no injuries were reported in the mishap, they will still investigate the case for navigating a vessel in a rash or negligent manner that could endanger human life or potentially cause harm to others.
'If convicted, offenders can be jailed up to six months or fined RM2,000, or both,' he said.
DSP Jaafar urged all boat and sea operators to comply with safety requirements at all times.
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