KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 – The Malaysia Scuba Diving Association (MSDA) has urged authorities to take strict regulatory action—including shutting down non-compliant dive centers—following two separate foreign tourist diving fatalities in Pulau Tioman within less than a month.
MSDA President Aminor Azmi Abdul Latip expressed deep concern over safety standards in the local recreational diving industry following the death of 55-year-old Afghan national Mohammed Seyar Musazay during a Discovery Scuba Diving session near Kampung Salang on September 30, 2026. The tragedy followed an earlier fatal diving incident involving another foreign visitor at the island destination on September 12.
“If serious breaches in safety protocols, licensing rules, or negligence are found, we demand severe action, including ordering the operator to cease operations,” Aminor Azmi stated in an official release on Sunday, October 4. “Operators who show this kind of negligence cannot be allowed to remain in our industry, and now is the time for real, decisive action.”
Demands for Comprehensive Multi-Agency Probe
The association urged the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), the Tioman Development Authority (TDA), and other governing bodies to initiate a thorough and independent investigation into the incidents.
Key operational areas highlighted for regulatory audit include:
- Licensing & Credentials: Verification of valid dive shop operating permits and instructor credentials, including up-to-date professional memberships and Emergency First Response (EFR) certifications.
- Safety Protocols & Ratios: Reviewing student-to-instructor ratios, staffing adequacy, equipment maintenance logs, and emergency response execution during the incidents.
- Reputational Risk: Preventing further safety breaches from undermining Malaysia’s international standing as a top-tier global diving and marine eco-tourism destination.
MSDA reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with government ministries and industry stakeholders to enforce safety compliance, eliminate systemic vulnerabilities, and restore public and international traveler confidence in Malaysia’s diving sector.
–NMT
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