KOTA KINABALU: The State Government must come up with more serious measures to stamp out fish bombing activity within Sabah waters, said Sabah Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (BERSATU) Chief, Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor.
He said the security authorities and Fisheries Department also need to double up the enforcement of existing laws on this.
“We need to increase the effort to stamp out fish bombing activity which is becoming quite rampant in Sabah.
“This is because this activity is not only threatening and destroying the fish source and coral reefs, but also endangering the life of tourists especially those going for scuba diving in the coral reef areas,” he said.
Hajiji said this when commenting on former Chief Justice of Malaysia, Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, who ticked off a Sabah Cabinet Minister for making lightly of the serious fishbombing problem plaguing Sabah by saying that those involved were just children.
According to Richard, “Fish bombing is still going around. Two weeks ago, at one of the islands, a Minister said ‘oh, all these are done by kids’”.
“Kids? They were still holding a bomb. so, kid can do bombing now! You can see the lame excuses given by the authority.”
“It’s very, very sad. We need to wake up. Bombs in the hands of kids are still bombs,” Richard reportedly said in disbelief at the reasoning given on the matter at a session at the Borneo Colloquium on Environmental Justice 2020 at Hyatt Regency here on Feb 15.
Hajiji, who is also Sulaman State Assemblyman, said he has raised the fish bombing issue at the Sabah State Legislative Assembly sitting on November 19 last year.
According to him, the activity is so worrying because not only that the fish bombs can kill the fish, big and small, but will also damage the coral reefs and all the natural beauties and plants at the bottom of the sea within the State waters.
“On July 5, 2019, two divers from China and their diving instructor, a local, were killed in waters off Pulau Kalapuan in Semporna, showing how rampant the use of fish bombs is.
“According a report by the WWF-Malaysia, the seven seismic detectors installed within the district of Semporna alone recorded 1,195 blasts from June to December of 2018.
“There were also 24 cases of arrests made on the use of fish bombs in 2018 and 39 cases of arrests made as of end of last year. This is very worrying to us.”
“Therefore I urge the Government to take stern action to curb this irresponsible acts,” he said while debating on the Sabah State Budget 2020 then.
He said the reproach made by Richard should be served as a lesson for all parties, while stressing that effort need to be made through awareness programme that involves the local community leaders.
He said local community leaders in areas where there are frequent fish bombing activities need to be called in and given explanation and education on how important is shared roles and responsibilities in looking after the marine resources and stamping out the negative activity.
He also hope the Government will intensify the effort to catch and send home illegal immigrants in the State.
“Stern legal action must be enforced on the illegal immigrants for the benefit, security and future of the people and the State of Sabah,” he stressed..-pr/BNN
