Keep safety in mind, boat passengers told
Published on: Monday, September 16, 2019
By: Lagatah Toyos
Pajeri (centre) making inspection on a passenger boat at the old CIQ jetty in Tawau.
TAWAU: All passenger boat operators in the State are advised to keep safety and life in mind, especially in the current adverse weather, haze and choppy wave conditions. Marine Police Region 4 Sabah Commander, ACP Mohamad Pajeri Ali, said they are concerned about the risk of damage to boats or loss of life if safety measures are not prioritised.ADVERTISEMENT
He said action under the Merchant Shipping Acts and the Penal Code can be taken against those who fail to abide by the advice.
“The Act among others includes offences such as overloading, speeding and no safety jackets,” he said while carrying out observation at the old CIQ Jetty, here, Saturday. The results of the observation showed that there are still passengers heading to and from Pulau Sebatik to Tawau’s main land with passengers not wearing safety jackets despite the bad weather.
“We have asked them to prioritise safety at sea by emphasising the use of safety jackets that are required to be worn by all passengers under the Act. “Boat operators need to provide safety jackets and equipment which are suitable for both adults and children,” he added.
Meanwhile, as of 4pm on Saturday, the Tawau Air Pollution Index (API) reading via the Malaysia Air Pollutant Index showed an increase to 135 (unhealthy). The reading places Tawau at the first district in Sabah to reach an unhealthy API reading level.ADVERTISEMENT Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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As at 5pm on Friday, Tawau’s API reading was at 76 (average level).
API reading of 0 to 50 is categorised as good, 51 to 100 (moderate), 101 to 200 (unhealthy) , 201 to 300 (very unhealthy), while 300 and above is dangerous.