The boat left from Tanjung Aru in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, for Pulau Mengalum at 9am yesterday. It was reported missing when it didn’t arrive even 12 hours later. Two of its crew members have been found, and rescue operations are ongoing for the other 29 who were on board the sunken vessel.
“It will definitely affect the tourism industry. Sabah is one of the top tourism destinations in the country, especially areas surrounding the coast and the seaside,” Wee told FMT.
He said the authorities must show the world that they are doing everything they can to find the missing boat.
“We must be seen to be taking all-out action. That’s the most important thing.
“If you’re just doing it and you’re not showing the world what you’re doing, then that’s no good because people want to know what’s being done.”
He said families must also be informed of the government’s and authorities’ efforts to find the missing boat.
“Keep their families informed. We need to show the world that we care, that we’re doing what we can and that we’re keeping people informed because if you do not give out information, then that’s when people get angry.”
Wee pointed out that incidents like this could happen anywhere so no one should be blamed for it. What was important, he said, was how it was being managed.
“We cannot condemn anyone over the missing boat. It’s no one’s fault and this kind of thing can happen anywhere in the world and sometimes you just can’t avoid it. What makes a difference is how you manage such an incident.”
Former Bumiputera Tourism Operators Association of Malaysia (Bumitra) president Syed Mohd Razif Yassin agreed with Wee, saying that what was important was how the government was going to solve the issue by providing quick information through official government channels.
“They need to let the people know what exactly happened, what’s the latest update and what the authorities are doing,” he told FMT.
He said such incidents certainly had an effect on the tourism industry and that tourists had the right to know whether or not surrounding areas where the boat had gone missing are dangerous to visit.
“The government must also inform the public whether or not it is safe for tourists to come and visit both the country and in particular, the place where the incident occurred,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sabah Tourism told FMT that it is still waiting for news and updates from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
“Until then we refrain from making further comments. Our utmost priority right now is that the tourists are found soon and safe,” said a Sabah Tourism representative.
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