Measures proposed to prevent paragliding mishaps in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Several measures have been proposed to ensure paragliding activities in Sabah are safer, including imposing a 14-day suspension of operations should any operator breach safety regulations.

This was among the measures discussed following an incident involving a Chinese tourist who suffered injuries while paragliding here last month.

“This is to give space for authorities to investigate incidents,” said state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew.

In a statement yesterday, she said local authorities must monitor activities that involve tourists to ensure regulations are followed.

“The ministry views seriously the safety of tourists in Sabah,” she said, adding the measures were recommended in a special meeting initiated by the state tourism ministry on Wednesday.

The multiagency discussion involved other ministries and departments such as the state Local Government and Housing Ministry, state Youth and Sports Ministry, federal Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, Sabah Attorney-General’s Chambers, Sabah Tourism Board, Ranau District Office, Sabah Paragliding Association (PLUS) and the police.

In the latest paragliding incident, a 64-year-old Chinese tourist was reported to have been hurt while indulging in the activity in Lohan, Ranau, some 100km from here, on April 22.

Liew said PLUS was also urged to hold discussions with the Malaysian Sport Aviation Federation to refine the guidelines for paragliding activities in Sabah.

Among the factors to be considered, she added, were the competency levels of the paragliding guides, condition of equipment, take off and landing locations, weather assessment, and readiness of safety facilities in the vicinity.

“Any standard operating procedure for paragliding must be approved by the authorities.

“The meeting was also informed that there would be several events that involved paragliding activities, such as the Sonsoluyon Paragliding Accuracy Championship which is scheduled for May 25 and 26.

“Hence, the meeting suggested for the Ranau district council and offside to reconsider the implementation of these events,” Liew said.