THE boat tragedy that claimed three lives off the coast of Pulau Perhentian on Saturday night was likely caused by a sudden storm, according to a local community leader.
Chairman of the Pulau Perhentian Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK), Nik Zawawi Mohd Nor, said the accident occurred around 10.30pm as passengers were returning to their resort from a fire show at Long Beach on Pulau Perhentian Kecil.
“The weather appeared fine earlier that evening, but around 9pm, it began to change before strong winds struck the area,” he said.
“The boatman informed me that he had advised the passengers to postpone their return journey due to safety concerns, but they insisted on going back to the resort.”
Nik Zawawi said the journey from Long Beach to their accommodation on Pulau Perhentian Besar typically takes around 10 minutes across a four-kilometre stretch of sea.
“If only they had waited another two to three hours, this tragedy might have been avoided. Many other tourists stranded on the island chose to wait for the weather to improve.”
He added that the boat capsized after being hit by large waves, just metres away from the resort. The storm lasted until about 11.30pm, by which time rescue efforts were already underway.
“Local residents and authorities acted swiftly to assist the victims,” he said. “It’s a heartbreaking incident, especially because it involved young children and unfolded so suddenly due to unpredictable weather conditions.”
The boat was carrying 15 passengers when it overturned. Among the deceased were S Arumugam, 40, his three-year-old daughter A Sarrvihka, and another child, 10-year-old VR Vennpani. Six-year-old TS Sakthivel remains in critical condition at Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah in Kuala Terengganu.
The families involved had travelled from Butterworth, Penang, and Sungai Petani, Kedah, for a holiday and had checked into a resort on the island the previous Friday.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in Terengganu has confirmed that a full investigation is underway, focusing on the safety protocols and operational conditions of the boat service.
Meanwhile, the Terengganu state government has announced plans to recommend to the Marine Department of Malaysia that the licences of boat operators or skippers found negligent in such incidents be suspended or revoked.
“We will submit a formal proposal to the Marine Department,” said State Executive Councillor for Tourism, Culture, Environment and Climate Change, Datuk Razali Idris.
“There are 628 licensed tourist boat operators across our island destinations. Given that over 70 per cent of our tourism sector depends on coastal and island activities, safety must remain paramount.”
Razali said that increased on-ground engagement with operators will be carried out to reinforce safety protocols, and operators will be encouraged to deliver proper safety briefings before every trip.
“There have been cases where tourists themselves neglected to wear life jackets. That’s why we’ve organised numerous engagement sessions to emphasise the importance of following SOPs,” he added.
Despite regulations that prohibit night operations for passenger boats, Nik Zawawi noted that water taxis on the island often run flexibly to meet local transport needs, especially in the absence of roads.
“Technically, under Marine Department licensing, night operations aren’t allowed,” he said. “But here, boats are our main mode of transport. We use them any time of day or night.” - June 30, 2025
