October 18, 2011 at 2:00 pm
It is not often that we run critical or ‘negative’ news on Malaysia.com, but when we believe that something bad keeps on happening repeatedly, there is nothing left to do but to say it as it is. It is with a heavy heart that we highlight a recent article about a tourist sustaining injuries while riding a water scooter after colliding with another scooter at Batu Ferringhi, Penang.
Some stretches of the beaches in Penang are no longer as tranquil and quiet as shown in this picture. Most of it are now occupied by water sports operators.
While no one can predict when and why an accident happens, we can take preventive measures. And like the saying goes, history tends to repeat itself, this incident is the latest of several this year involving tourists at Batu Ferringhi. The water sports activities at Batu Ferringhi has long been a thorny issue which has been unresolved, and by the looks of it, nasty accidents at the beach will still continue to happen. The parties involved will not budge an inch, even though there have been numerous complaints about the low standard of safety there. The debate goes back and forth, even as the number of accidents climb higher and higher.
Will things ever change? Or will things only change when a fatal accident finally happens?
Read the full article below:
A tourist from the Middle East was injured while his wife, who was riding pillion, escaped unhurt after the water scooter they were riding on was hit by another scooter at Batu Ferringhi here.
The victim, Ali Al-Shamrani, 31, who is now warded at Penang Hospital injured his leg, hip and waist when his scooter was hit from behind. He is also believed to have dislocated a thigh bone.
The accident, which occurred at 2.30pm yesterday, comes just two days after the Penang Municipal Council implemented demarcation zones for beach activities at the popular tourism belt.
George Town OCPD Asst Comm Gan Kong Meng said the rider of the other scooter, a 23-year-old Indian national, was detained to facilitate investigations.
He said the suspect from New Delhi was on holiday and staying at a nearby budget hotel.
ACP Gan said they had also quizzed the operator, adding that the scooters involved in the incident had been seized.
“We are still waiting for a detailed medical report on the victim’s injuries,” he said.
It was earlier reported that the Penang Water Recreation Association had proposed eight zones for beach activities with each spanning some 200m and separated by a “break-off” point.
Several beach boys had already set up buoys to mark the swimming, parasailing and water scooter zones.
The zoning process and enhanced water sport guidelines came about after several accidents involving tourists.
These included a Form Four student from Kedah, who was hit by a water scooter.
A 40-year-old woman from Ipoh suffered lacerations on her neck and arm after being entangled in the rope of a parasail, while her teenage son sustained minor cuts by the same rope.
In June, a five-year-old girl was injured after she was hit by a horse while a Chinese tourist suffered broken legs when she was hit by an out-of-control water scooter.
Penang Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said he was told that the watersport operator involved had complied with all rules and regulations.
Source: The Star
Photo (c) Khalzuri
Penang Watersports Safety
October 18, 2011 at 2:00 pm
It is not often that we run critical or ‘negative’ news on Malaysia.com, but when we believe that something bad keeps on happening repeatedly, there is nothing left to do but to say it as it is. It is with a heavy heart that we highlight a recent article about a tourist sustaining injuries while riding a water scooter after colliding with another scooter at Batu Ferringhi, Penang.
Some stretches of the beaches in Penang are no longer as tranquil and quiet as shown in this picture. Most of it are now occupied by water sports operators.
While no one can predict when and why an accident happens, we can take preventive measures. And like the saying goes, history tends to repeat itself, this incident is the latest of several this year involving tourists at Batu Ferringhi. The water sports activities at Batu Ferringhi has long been a thorny issue which has been unresolved, and by the looks of it, nasty accidents at the beach will still continue to happen. The parties involved will not budge an inch, even though there have been numerous complaints about the low standard of safety there. The debate goes back and forth, even as the number of accidents climb higher and higher.
Will things ever change? Or will things only change when a fatal accident finally happens?
Read the full article below:
A tourist from the Middle East was injured while his wife, who was riding pillion, escaped unhurt after the water scooter they were riding on was hit by another scooter at Batu Ferringhi here.
The victim, Ali Al-Shamrani, 31, who is now warded at Penang Hospital injured his leg, hip and waist when his scooter was hit from behind. He is also believed to have dislocated a thigh bone.
The accident, which occurred at 2.30pm yesterday, comes just two days after the Penang Municipal Council implemented demarcation zones for beach activities at the popular tourism belt.
George Town OCPD Asst Comm Gan Kong Meng said the rider of the other scooter, a 23-year-old Indian national, was detained to facilitate investigations.
He said the suspect from New Delhi was on holiday and staying at a nearby budget hotel.
ACP Gan said they had also quizzed the operator, adding that the scooters involved in the incident had been seized.
“We are still waiting for a detailed medical report on the victim’s injuries,” he said.
It was earlier reported that the Penang Water Recreation Association had proposed eight zones for beach activities with each spanning some 200m and separated by a “break-off” point.
Several beach boys had already set up buoys to mark the swimming, parasailing and water scooter zones.
The zoning process and enhanced water sport guidelines came about after several accidents involving tourists.
These included a Form Four student from Kedah, who was hit by a water scooter.
A 40-year-old woman from Ipoh suffered lacerations on her neck and arm after being entangled in the rope of a parasail, while her teenage son sustained minor cuts by the same rope.
In June, a five-year-old girl was injured after she was hit by a horse while a Chinese tourist suffered broken legs when she was hit by an out-of-control water scooter.
Penang Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said he was told that the watersport operator involved had complied with all rules and regulations.
Source: The Star
Photo (c) Khalzuri
Tags: Batu Ferringghi, penang, tourism action plan, Water Sports Activities