While the recent incident of a boat capsizing near Pulau Perhentian—which led to the deaths of three individuals, including two young children aged 3 and 10—has made headlines, netizens are expressing concern over the frequent use of drugs by boatmen in Malaysia.
Alisa, 34, an employee at one of the islands near Mersing, frequents the jetty and often interacts with boat crew and fishermen in the area.
According to her, the hotel she works at regularly tests their boat captains or skippers for drug use.
“Everyone working on the island knows it’s really common for boat drivers to have access to morphine and shabu (methamphetamine),” — Alisa.
Malaysia’s coastal drug problem has been a recurring issue for years. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), in collaboration with the National Anti-Drug Agency, often conducts spot checks on fishing boats as part of their routine inspections.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and National Anti-Drug Agency personnel checking the crew of a fishing boat for drugs off the Kuantan coast | NST Files
While regular checks and inspections for boat skippers should be enforced, this is far from a new issue in Malaysia. Stricter regulations need to be imposed by the employers of boating companies. Currently, it is private resorts and hotels that are taking the initiative to conduct drug tests on their boat operators. Responsibility must lie with the employers.
Just earlier this month, in June, another fatal boat accident occurred in Tanjung Harapan, where a boat capsized, resulting in three deaths—including a three-year-old child—and two victims reported missing.
The tragedy happened during a test run when the boat made a U-turn approximately 30 minutes after departing from the Royal Selangor Yacht Club.
The sole survivor, Chang Yan Qin Alvin, 17, said the incident happened very quickly.
“Within 10 seconds of the incident, water entered all compartments of the boat,” he recalled. The boat was reportedly driven by its owner, who was conducting a second test run.
What are some precautions we can take as passengers, especially when commuting by boat to islands or during commercial boating trips? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Have a story to tell?
Share your story on our Facebook page and you may be featured on In Real Life Malaysia.
I Made Sure My Ex-husband Lost Everything After He Cheated On Me With A 21 Year Old Influencer
