KOTA KINABALU: The boat capsize incident that killed seven people in Semporna waters last week is a reminder to operators not to neglect the safety of passengers.

       Semporna Umno division chief Abdul Manan Indanan said the tragedy of a boat sinking in the waters of Pulau Timbun Mata on April 17 was a lesson to all parties not to take safety issues at sea lightly.

       "There is no doubt many people in the area were used to living by the sea. But the question of safety of the passengers should not be ignored.

       "We cannot predict what will happen, but the accident can be prevented from getting worse if it happens," he said when channelling donations to the victims of the tragedy here Monday (April 18).

       He said the Umno division would be holding meetings with boat operators in the district to ensure that they followed strictly with safety issues and avoid overloading while making trips between various points between islands and the mainland here.

       He said they will be discussing with the Semporna district action committee to ensure that all boats operating in Semporna waters have safety jackets.

       He said the suspicion was that the boat with 21 people on board was overloaded when it capsized in choppy seas and bad weather.

       Seven people including an infant drowned in the incident while others were rescued by nearby villagers.

       "I hope this incident will be a lesson to all of us who survived," he added.

       Police have arrested a 64-year-old skipper of the boat and are investigating the case for causing death by negligence.