2 missing after fish bomb hits boat off Sabah island

KOTA KINABALU: Two people are missing after the pump boat they were in was hit by an exploding fish bomb at Pulau Tatagan in Sabah’s east coast Semporna district.

The incident is believed to have occurred yesterday but was only reported to the authorities today.

State fire and rescue assistant director (operations) Misran Bisara said their Semporna control room was notified of the incident by the police at 10.34am today.

“According to a witness, the incident happened yesterday and that two people in the pump boat still could not be located,” he said when contacted.

However, the authorities are still trying to piece together what actually took place yesterday.

It is believed the duo were stunned when thrown overboard in the explosion that hit their vessel.

Misran said a search party comprising the fire and rescue department, police, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and Sabah Parks has been initiated.

On July 5, 2019, two Chinese tourists and a local divemaster, were killed by fish bombs off Semporna.

Zhao Zhong and Xu Yingjie, both 26, and diving instructor Ab Zainal Abdu, 30, were diving near Pulau Kalapuan when the incident occurred.

Police initially arrested a boatman, aged 24, and a guide, 23. Later, another 10 people, including sea gypsies, were arrested for questioning.

Police later classified the case as murder but no one has been charged as yet due to a lack of witnesses.

On Monday, five people believed to be involved in fish-bombing activities jumped into the sea to evade arrest at Tanjung Wokong, Pulau Gaya, which is off the state capital.

The suspects swam all the way to the island to escape from the MMEA. Their boat and 150kg of fish were seized. — Free Malaysia Today