Investigation underway after tourists fall sick on Perhentian Kecil, says ministry

KUALA TERENGGANU: The authorities are taking action to determine the cause of the incident involving a group of tourists who suffered dizziness, vomiting and fever after returning from Pulau Perhentian Kecil in Besut.

The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry said it had contacted the Terengganu Tourism Department to get a clearer picture and was told the incident was being investigated.

"The Terengganu Tourism Department said its team has been in communication with state-level agencies such as the Besut district office and Besut district health office, and has been informed that several agencies concerned have taken and are taking action to ascertain the main reason for what happened," said the Ministry in a statement on Saturday (Oct 1).

The Ministry said it took a serious view of the matter as it involved the safety and health of tourists, and such incidents should be dealt with thoroughly to ensure the Government's objective to rejuvenate the country's tourism industry can be achieved.

On Friday (Sept 30), an online news portal reported that a group of 40 tourists comprising 27 adults, seven children and six infants, who were on a three-day holiday at Pulau Perhentian Kecil, were alleged to have fallen sick after swimming in the waters off the island.

According to the report, one individual from the group claimed that half of them had diarrhoea and fever after returning from the island and several of them were hospitalised, whereas a one-year-old infant was diagnosed with typhoid and two small children suffered blood poisoning. - Bernama