Christina Liew
KOTA KINABALU: Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew advised all tourists to wear life jackets when they participate in water-based activities like swimming, snorkelling and diving.
“Wearing a life jacket at sea is a necessity to avoid any misadventure. Taking safety measures is for your own good. Refrain from taking the risk even if you are adept at swimming,” she said in a statement today.
Liew gave the advice in the wake of a drowning incident involving a 51-year-old Chinese tourist who reportedly drowned in shallow waters between Sapi Island and Gaya Island here yesterday.
Photo shows the location of the incident.
“Our islands are popular holiday destinations for locals and tourists alike. This unfortunate incident at Beach A on Sapi Island is heart-wrenching and regrettable. We cannot afford to have holidays ending in tragedies as this could hurt Sabah’s tourism industry,” she said.
Director of Sabah Parks Dr Maklarin Lakim informed the Minister that there were about 400 visitors and tourists on the island at the time of the incident.
Sabah Parks, an agency under the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry, may study whether there is a need to increase the number of lifeguards on Sabah’s islands patronised by locals and tourists.
