JOHOR BARU: New standard operating procedures (SOP) are expected to be announced soon to improve the safety of visitors and divers in the islands around Mersing.

       Tourism Johor director Suhairi Hashim said that state tourism, environment, heritage and culture committee chairman K. Raven Kumar would be chairing a meeting with tourism industry players in Mersing to discuss the new SOP.

       "We will have the meeting tomorrow to discuss further the SOP with industry players and all the agencies involved.

       "Following that, an announcement with more details is expected to be made by the state executive councillor," he said when met by reporters after attending a visit by the Melaka tourism, heritage, and culture committee chairman Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis at Johor Baru Sentral here on Friday (April 15).

       He said that the tour boats in Mersing had been receiving an increase in bookings from the public following the reopening of the border.

       "The state executive councillor has made the initiative to improve the SOP and discussion would be made with those involved during the meeting," he said.

       Last Thursday (April 7), Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar called for all diving activities off Mersing to be banned temporarily, following the disappearance of four foreign divers off Mersing islands.

       The Sultan issued the decree after the incident took place off Pulau Tokong Sanggul, near Pulau Sibu on Wednesday (April 6).

       "I want all diving activities in the waters off Mersing to be temporarily halted until we know for sure what happened to the unfortunate divers.

       "We cannot allow diving to continue if safety measures are compromised.

       "Diving rules and regulations must also be reviewed in their entirety before these activities can be allowed to resume," His Majesty said.

       Sultan Ibrahim added that the reviews must be made public once they are completed to restore public and tourist confidence

       Three of the four divers had been found safe between April 7 and 8 while one remains missing and presumed to be dead by his father, who was also one of the divers involved in the tragedy.