MIRI: Three participants of the Coral Reefs Awareness Workshop suffered injuries after the engine of the boat they were on exploded at the Marina Jetty here today (Sept 22).
According to Northern Sarawak Journalists Association (NSJA) president Andy Jong Wan Joon, the participants had just finished preparing their diving gears for the programme when the incident happened around 8.30am.
Three participants, including a journalist, who suffered burns to the hand and chin, were rushed to hospital for immediate treatment.
“The Coral Reefs Awareness Workshop, organised by NSJA, will be postponed to a later date due to poor weather and the explosion incident,” Jong said.
Earlier that morning, Tourism, Arts and Culture Assistant Minister Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, who officiated at the programme, praised the association’s active participation in conducting various social and community works.
“One of the works being carried out is the cleaning of coral reefs in the Miri-Sibuti Marine National Park and other projects, hence, their active involvement in contributing to the community deserves praise.
“Miri-Sibuti Coral Reef National Park, located on the maritime border between Bintulu and Miri, covering an area of 186,930 hectares, is the largest marine national park in the state.
“Miri is a diving centre that is gaining attention, as a result of its beautiful coral reef collection that forms the Miri-Sibuti Marine National Park, with a depth of seven to 30 metres and a moderate visibility of 10 to 30 metres,” he said.
Ting added that in Miri, there are several interesting locations for diving activities and they are able to attract tourists from abroad.
He noted that environmental cleanliness, including in sea, must be maintained to ensure that Miri’s popular tourism product — diving — remains one of the main contributors to the state’s economy.
The community are urged to maintain and protect the environment, both on land and at sea, by avoiding pollution, for the sustainability of the tourism industry in the district.
“Hence, we must maintain the beauty and cleanliness of the Miri-Sibuti Coral Reef National Park. NSJA has set a good example that should be emulated by the community,” he said.
