Perhentian boat tragedy: Travel agency, operator had no licence
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing revealed that the agency and operators' licences expired in April.
"I am deeply angered and disappointed by the tragic boat capsize incident off Pulau Perhentian, which resulted in three deaths and nine injuries.
"I have immediately instructed the ministry to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter."
He said aside from operating without a licence, the agency and boat operator also failed to ensure the passengers wore life jackets.
"Most alarmingly, the boatman tested positive for drugs in his urine test," he said, adding the boatman also had a record for five prior drug-related offences.
"The fact that the travel agency saw fit to hire such a person to ferry passengers at sea is a gross negligence of safety and a complete disregard for human lives," he said in a statement.
Last night, the boat carrying 15 passengers aged between three and 40, capsized during a storm.
The dead were identified as S. Arumugam, 40; his daughter A. Sarrvihka, 3; and a 10-year-old relative, V. Vennpani.
Besut police chief Superintendent Azamuddin Ahmad @ Abu said today that the boat driver, who tested positive for drugs, has been arrested.
Meanwhile, Tiong warned all tourism operators against compromising on safety.
"Malaysia has already experienced numerous incidents that have cast a shadow over our tourism sector, damaging the country's reputation and, in some cases, prompting foreign governments to issue travel warnings against certain destinations here.
"If left unchecked, this will severely affect our tourism industry in the long run," he said.
He called on the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) to closely monitor all vessels involved in maritime activities.
Separately, he said tour bus safety management is also a key area of focus for the ministry.
He said the ministry is working towards transferring the regulatory authority over tourism-related transport vehicles from the Transport Ministry back to his ministry.
"Once this jurisdiction is reinstated, we will undertake a comprehensive review of current regulatory frameworks to significantly reduce the occurrence of tour bus accidents.
"One of the measures we plan to implement is the Driver Monitoring System, along with mandatory urine drug testing, to ensure that bus drivers entrusted with passenger safety are in sound physical and mental condition."
He also said tour buses must undergo regular maintenance and inspection to prevent mechanical failures that could lead to accidents.
Tiong said foreign ministers and industry representatives of other countries have raised the issue of tourist safety with him.
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