JOHOR BAHRU: Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum 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 personally witnessed the incident, expressed regret over what happened.

His Highness said: "I regret the incident which happened right before my eyes. I saw the passenger boat speeding dangerously near the Pulau Rawa jetty.

''I directed the police to detain the boat which had a family with small children on board for island hopping activities," said His Highness.

"After police detained them and conducted further investigations, it was clear that they handled the boat recklessly as they were under the influence of drugs.

As such, Sultan Ibrahim had 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.

"Take stringent action including revoking their boat licenses and seize boats which flouted regulations," His Highness said.

Yesterday, the police detained two men, a skipper and a crew member of a passenger boat after finding them handling the boat in a reckless and dangerous manner, with five others found in the waters off Mersing, near Pulau Rawa.

Both men, aged 22 and 26 years, tested positive for methamphetamine.

-- BERNAMA