KOTA KINABALU: Tourism operators are urged to prioritise the safety of their passengers amid ongoing warnings of rough sea conditions.
Earlier, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) had urged the maritime community to be wary as the sea conditions would be unpredictable until early November.
Recently, there are videos of boats full of passengers landing at jetties despite the choppy sea condition. However it could not be ascertained of its location and time of incident.
Following the recent bad weather with strong winds, many had raised concerns of tourists' safety.
Sabah Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai has called on tourism players to be more alert.
"Tourism operators must be vigilant.
"The safety of tourists, visitors, and passengers must always come first," he told the media after opening the 4th Tanjung Aru beach festival at Prince Philip Park here.
He said it is important to adhere with the safety advisories issued by authorities regarding dangerous sea conditions, stressing that these warnings should not be taken lightly.
"Warnings have already been issued about the rough seas, and it's crucial to follow them.
"Above all, safety must always be the top priority.
"We must ensure that tourists are well-protected," he said.