Mabul chalets blaze eye-opener: Masidi

Kota Kinabalu: The blaze which struck a row of chalets at a resort on Mabul Island off the Semporna waters last Saturday, should serve as a wake-up call for resort operators to be prepared for any eventuality.State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun, said while it was an isolated yet unfortunate incident, it should serve as an "eye-opener" for all resorts in the vicinity.

He said resorts located on islands, especially those which were isolated, should ensure their staff were trained to put out fires and had fire-extinguishers and related paraphernalia.

He said this after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Asia e University and PHM Borneo Education Sdn Bhd here.

In the incident, the fire broke out at the resort about 7.30pm, when most of the 24 foreign and local tourists were having dinner.

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The fire was put out an hour later by the resort's staff and the police General Operations Force based on the island. Semporna police chief Deputy Superintendent Mohd Azim Khan Abdullah said initial investigations revealed the cause of the fire was due to short-circuit.

Mabul island is situated near Sipadan island, a popular diving spot.

Meanwhile, the Sabah government has no power to fix the prices of handicrafts.

"What goes own between the traders and handicraft makers is purely a business transaction," he said, commenting on a report that Tenom handicraft makers were being exploited and that they are seeking help from Sri Pelancongan.

Masidi said that Sri Pelancongan was just a business entity under the Sabah Tourism Board, and it did not have the authority to fix or determine handicraft prices.

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Tenom Wanita Umno chief Datin Rahmahjan Sulaiman Khan was quoted as saying that traders were buying cheap from handicraft makers in the rural areas and selling very dear. "We are not talking about sugar or cooking oil or other essential items. The craftsmen are not forced to sell their products, " Masidi said.

"While we sympathise with the villagers, I doubt there is anything much we can do because we can't determine the price of goods in Sabah," he said.

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