The Star reported that the almost three-minute video, apparently taken by a tourist on the boat, shows people shouting in Chinese “rescue them!” rescue them!”, as the boat chugs past the spot where the capsize victims were.
The tourists were clearly upset, and are heard asking each other why the boat operator did not stop to help, said the report.
On Sunday afternoon, Sekolah Kebangsaan Mantanani headmaster Limun Gamburud and teacher Kamariah Hamdan died after the boat they were on capsized at Kuala Rampayan Laut near Kota Belud, while eight other passengers survived.
The boat was ferrying residents as well as teachers and students to Pulau Mantanani when the incident happened at about 3.30 pm.
According to the report, the video has stirred anger and disbelief in various WhatsApp groups, with people questioning the boat operator’s lack of action, as in the past many fishermen or local villagers had come to the rescue of victims on board boats that had run into trouble in the waters off Pulau Mantanani.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency Sabah and Labuan Regional Director Mohamad Zubil Mat Som told the daily that they were trying to establish the video’s veracity. Several boat operators in Pulau Mantanani contacted by the daily declined to comment.
According to the report, there have been at least three recent incidents where Chinese tourists were left adrift or stranded in choppy waters between Pulau Mantanani and Kota Belud.