SULTAN of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar is unhappy over the dangerous handling of a tourist boat by drug intoxicated boatmen in Mersing yesterday.

In a Facebook post today, the sultan, who witnessed the incident, expressed regret over what happened. 

“I regret the incident which happened right before my eyes. I saw the passenger boat speeding dangerously near the Pulau Rawa jetty,” said the sultan.

“I directed the police to detain the boat, which had a family with small children on board for island hopping activities.

“After police detained them and conducted an investigation, it was clear that they handled the boat recklessly as they were under the influence of drugs.”

Hence, Sultan Ibrahim has directed all enforcement agencies to increase patrols and take stringent action.

“Incidents like this are a great embarrassment to the Johor tourism industry. I hope incidents like this are not repeated,” he said.

“Take stringent action, including revoking their boat licences and seizing boats that flout regulations.”

Yesterday, police detained two men – a skipper and a crew member of a passenger boat – after they were found to have handled the boat in a reckless and dangerous manner in the waters off Mersing, near Pulau Rawa.

The duo, aged 22 and 26, tested positive for methamphetamine. – Bernama, October 7, 2021.