Tourist boats cannot use two jetties in Tanjung Aru - DBKK

Kota Kinabalu City Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai said the move was to control tour operators from using the jetties because the two jetties were built for fishermen and local residents.

"We have stationed enforcement officers to monitor this area (Tanjung Aru Jetty) to prevent tourist boat entering here and to make sure tourists don't come to this area," he told reporters after visiting the two jetties in Tanjung Aru, here today.

Yeo urged all tour operators to use the three jetties designated for the purpose of tourist boats - Sutera Jetty, Jesselton Point Jetty and Shangrila Tanjung Aru Resort (STAR) Jetty.

"If the tourist operator used a proper approved jetty, the relevant department can check the boat from time to time. But, if they used 'illegal' jetties (illegal for tourist boats), there will be nobody around here to check. We do not know whether the boats are safe or not," he said.

Last Saturday, a catamaran with 31 on board, comprising 28 tourists from China and three crew, was believed to have capsized at about 10am, an hour after leaving from the Tanjung Aru jetty to Pulau Mengalum, about 56km from Kota Kinabalu.