SEMPORNA: A brawl erupted on Pulau Timba Timba Island here on Wednesday, sparked by a dispute over tourist landing fees.
The incident, which was captured on video and has gone viral on social media, has raised significant concerns about tourist safety and the potential damage to Semporna’s reputation as a premier travel destination.
The Semporna district police received a report on the incident from a 27-year-old manager of a tourism company, who was the victim of the attack, at about 7.56 pm.
According to a police statement released on Thursday, the altercation began when the victim, who was escorting a group of tourists, was approached by several individuals demanding a landing fee.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim’s company had already paid the required fee to one management company but was asked for a second payment by a different group upon arriving on the island. This disagreement quickly escalated into a physical assault.
The widespread circulation of the video online has drawn negative public comments, with many expressing anxieties over the security of tourists.
Police have initiated an investigation under Section 147 of the Penal Code for rioting and arrested three local suspects, all men between the ages of 25 and 27.
Acting Semporna OCPD DSP Jaafar Hakim has advised the public to refrain from speculation that could heighten public anxiety and further tarnish the district’s image as a safe tourist destination. – James Leong
