KK City Hall demolishes pier from where catamaran began ill-fated trip

City Hall enforcement personnel demolish the illegal pickup point at the jetty in Kampung Tanjung Aru. - NORMIMIE DIUN/The Star

KOTA KINABALU: City Hall has stepped in to stop marine tourism activities at a jetty in Kampung Tanjung Aru here that was meant for the use of fishermen.

Enforcement personnel demolished a pier and removed benches and tables at the wooden jetty used by a tour company.

Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai, who oversaw the operation Wednesday, said it is to ensure that all tourism activities cease at the jetty.

“This jetty was built for the use of Kampung Tanjung Aru folk, specifically those engaged in fishing activities and not for tourism,” he said.

Yeo later inspected the nearby concrete bridge leading to a platform for the public to view the sunset, and like other City Hall officials, was taken aback when he saw a metal railing and stairs heading down to a small landing platform for boats to take on and drop off passengers.

It was from here that 28 Chinese tourists boarded the ill-fated catamaran which sank an hour into its two-hour journey to Pulau Mengalum on Saturday.

Three people died while six more remain missing. Twenty-two people, including the skipper and one of the two crewmen, were rescued.

City Hall officials said the stairs and platform were not part of the original structure and they would block the area off with a chain as an immediate measure.