AN assemblyman has called for the strict regulation of the Personal
Watercrafts (Penang) Enactment 1999 with regards to parasailing to deter
operators of the watersport from operating illegally.
Air Itam assemblyman Wong Hon Wai said such a move was necessary to prevent the occurrence of more untoward incidents caused by parasailing.
He said in Penang, the enactment detailed how private watercraft such as water scooters and water sports
equipment required licence issued by the Penang Municipal Council.
“However, as pointed out by (Penang Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman) Chow (Kon Yeow), parasailing — a sport in which a parasail is usually attached to a speedboat — lies in a grey area between different regulatory bodies.
“There is no provision to issue licence for parasailing by the council, therefore there are also no proper guidelines as to how parasail operators should operate the sport, which makes it very dangerous.
“It’s important that the enactment is regulated strictly, so that operators will be more responsible in their actions,” he told a press conference at his service centre in Air Itam yesterday.
Wong said Sections 24 and 25 of the enactment empowered any officer authorised by the Penang government, such as those from the council and any police officer, to make arrests and seize any personal watercraft from those who operate watersports illegally.
At the press conference, Wong highlighted the case of an 11-year-old boy, who wished to be known only as Odell, who was injured due to a parasailing mishap on June 11.
Odell’s father, who wished to be known only as Choo, claimed that Odell was playing by the beach behind a hotel in Tanjung Bungah when the rope of a parachute, which was pulled by a boat, snagged on his neck as the parachutist was about to land.
Choo, who was a guest at the hotel, claimed that Odell suffered injuries to his neck, left shoulder and right arm due to the incident which occurred at around 6.30pm.
He said his son was taken to a nearby clinic in Tanjung Bungah by the hotel van.
Choo, a broker who lives in Air Itam, said he lodged a police report the next day before taking Odell to the Penang Hospital.
Wong said he was surprised that there was still ambiguity in the legislation enactment, although it had been 15 years since the state legislative assembly passed a regulation involving all personal watercraft activity along the coast of Penang.
“There is no point having this legislation if we do not enforce it,” he said.
Wong added that the enactment’s definition of “personal watercraft” which includes water scooter, aquabike, propcraft and hovercraft was “very comprehensive”.
“We have to view this seriously as it endangers public safety and gives a bad reputation to the state’s tourism industry.
“There has been a string of unfortunate incidents of parasailing over the years. I believe there are more incidents which went unreported and had escaped the public’s attention,” he said, adding that he would be writing to the state legal adviser on the matter.
Air Itam assemblyman Wong Hon Wai said such a move was necessary to prevent the occurrence of more untoward incidents caused by parasailing.
He said in Penang, the enactment detailed how private watercraft such as water scooters and water sports
equipment required licence issued by the Penang Municipal Council.
“However, as pointed out by (Penang Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman) Chow (Kon Yeow), parasailing — a sport in which a parasail is usually attached to a speedboat — lies in a grey area between different regulatory bodies.
“There is no provision to issue licence for parasailing by the council, therefore there are also no proper guidelines as to how parasail operators should operate the sport, which makes it very dangerous.
“It’s important that the enactment is regulated strictly, so that operators will be more responsible in their actions,” he told a press conference at his service centre in Air Itam yesterday.
Wong said Sections 24 and 25 of the enactment empowered any officer authorised by the Penang government, such as those from the council and any police officer, to make arrests and seize any personal watercraft from those who operate watersports illegally.
At the press conference, Wong highlighted the case of an 11-year-old boy, who wished to be known only as Odell, who was injured due to a parasailing mishap on June 11.
Odell’s father, who wished to be known only as Choo, claimed that Odell was playing by the beach behind a hotel in Tanjung Bungah when the rope of a parachute, which was pulled by a boat, snagged on his neck as the parachutist was about to land.
Choo, who was a guest at the hotel, claimed that Odell suffered injuries to his neck, left shoulder and right arm due to the incident which occurred at around 6.30pm.
He said his son was taken to a nearby clinic in Tanjung Bungah by the hotel van.
Choo, a broker who lives in Air Itam, said he lodged a police report the next day before taking Odell to the Penang Hospital.
Wong said he was surprised that there was still ambiguity in the legislation enactment, although it had been 15 years since the state legislative assembly passed a regulation involving all personal watercraft activity along the coast of Penang.
“There is no point having this legislation if we do not enforce it,” he said.
Wong added that the enactment’s definition of “personal watercraft” which includes water scooter, aquabike, propcraft and hovercraft was “very comprehensive”.
“We have to view this seriously as it endangers public safety and gives a bad reputation to the state’s tourism industry.
“There has been a string of unfortunate incidents of parasailing over the years. I believe there are more incidents which went unreported and had escaped the public’s attention,” he said, adding that he would be writing to the state legal adviser on the matter.
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