‘Whether they are crew members, passengers, or squid jigging participants, everyone must wear a life jacket at all times, including while resting or sleeping on board.’
KUALA TERENGGANU: The Terengganu government has urged all participants in squid jigging activities to wear life jackets at all times while on board boats, and advised boat skippers to conduct safety briefings before departure to reduce the risk of accidents at sea.
State Tourism, Culture, Environment and Climate Change Committee chairman Datuk Razali Idris said the wearing of life jackets should not be neglected, even when participants are resting or sleeping on board, as safety must remain the top priority throughout their time at sea.
“In my view, every boat carrying passengers must be equipped with life jackets, fire extinguishers and all the necessary safety equipment because we are responsible for people’s lives. Whether they are crew members, passengers, or squid jigging participants, everyone must wear a life jacket at all times, including while resting or sleeping on board.
“This does not apply only to squid jigging activities but to all water-based activities. Life jackets must be worn properly and should not be removed until all passengers have returned safely to the jetty,” he told Bernama when contacted today.
Meanwhile, Razali said boat skippers are also reminded to provide a brief safety briefing covering safety procedures, sea conditions and the proper way to wear a life jacket before departing from the jetty or landing point.
He said the briefing should cover weather and sea conditions, the duration of the trip, and the importance of wearing life jackets properly.
“The practice should be adopted in the same way as tourist boats ferrying passengers to islands, which usually conduct safety briefings before departure. Skippers are also the ones who know the actual conditions at sea, which is why they need to brief passengers before the journey begins,” he said.
He also reminded participants to heed the advice of boat skippers and not pressure them into proceeding with a trip if sea conditions are deemed unsafe, noting that most skippers in Terengganu are responsible operators who are willing to refund customers if a trip cannot proceed due to safety concerns.
Commenting on the boat that capsized last night, Razali said it was understood that the vessel had been in good condition before the incident and was operated by an experienced skipper, although the actual cause of the incident remains under investigation by the authorities.
“The sea was rough at the time, but there was no storm. It is understood that a large amount of water entered the engine compartment before the boat eventually sank. All the passengers were wearing life jackets at the time… That is why I stress that life jackets must be worn at all times and that everyone must not take safety lightly. They should keep them on throughout the trip, including while resting or sleeping on board,” he said.
He also said that the state government has no plans to revise the existing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for squid jigging activities, describing the current guidelines as adequate.
“Squid jigging has been carried out for many years. The existing SOPs are, in fact, sufficient. What is important is compliance with safety measures, including conducting safety briefings before the boat departs,” he said.
Razali also reminded squid jigging operators and participants to comply with any warnings issued by the Malaysia Marine Department, including refraining from going out to sea if boats are prohibited from operating due to adverse weather conditions.
He said the state government could only issue advisories, as the licensing of boats and approval for their operations fall under the jurisdiction of the Malaysia Marine Department.
Earlier, Kuala Terengganu police chief ACP Azli Mohd Noor confirmed that one person was killed, three others were injured, and eight were rescued after a squid jigging boat capsized about nine nautical miles off Dataran Kuala Nerus last night.
He said the incident occurred at about 9 pm, adding that the victim who died was boat crew member Ahmad Nasaruddin Mohmad Jalil, 37, while squid jigging participants Faris Ibrahim, 33, Ahmad Danial Iman, 24, and Fatin Fariesya Rohaizan, 26, were injured.
Two of the injured were treated as outpatients at Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah in Kuala Terengganu, while the third remained under follow-up treatment.
