{
  "id": 9303121,
  "title": "Diving industry backs tighter rules, protection for Sabah guides",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/diving-industry-backs-tighter-rules-protection-for-sabah-guides",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T09:12:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/regional/2026/09/1539369/diving-industry-backs-tighter-rules-protection-sabah-guides"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KOTA KINABALU: Dive industry representatives in Sabah have welcomed new Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC) licensing rules for dive guides. Sabah Dive Squad Club president Sim Fui highlighted the importance of regulation for improving accountability and safety standards. However, he emphasized that the regulation should also safeguard the livelihoods of local Sabah dive guides and instructors. The aim of the new registration system is to develop a regulated industry where qualified local professionals are prioritized and not replaced by unregulated or unauthorized foreign freelancers. Sim Fui stated that the regulation should achieve three goals: ensuring dive safety, raising professional standards, and protecting employment opportunities for the local Sabah dive community. To obtain a scuba diving tourist guide license, applicants must be Malaysian citizens aged 18 or older, hold a valid Dive Master or Dive Instructor certification, complete a recognized tourism course, and work under a licensed dive centre holding a valid TOBTAB licence. They must also join a tourist guide association and submit necessary documents like medical reports, diving certifications, and proof of appointment by a licensed dive centre. The MOTAC guidelines came into effect on April 15, but many divers only became aware of them after the Malaysia Scuba Diving Association announced a nationwide one-day course to help professionals prepare for the registration process. Suzimin Edris, president of the Semporna Diving Professionals Association, said the registration system could enhance oversight by enabling authorities and operators to identify properly qualified individuals in the industry. He also noted that the requirement could ensure dive companies employed registered professionals and contributed to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Social Security Organisation (Socso) rather than hiring freelance workers. Edris believed that registration could provide clearer employment opportunities for dive professionals but called for a simplified application process as applicants currently need to gather numerous documents. Aquila Chu, a freelance diving instructor based in Kota Kinabalu and Semporna, supported greater structure and supervision due to the increasing number of local and foreign instructors. He emphasized the need for standardization and supervision to maintain safety in the diving industry. However, Aquila expressed skepticism about the implementation and enforcement of the new system, stressing that meaningful regulation would only be effective if it led to consistent safety standards across the industry.",
  "summary": "KOTA KINABALU: Sabah diving industry players have welcomed the new Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC) licensing requirements for dive guides.",
  "key_points": [
    "Sabah Dive Squad Club welcomes new dive guide licensing rules.",
    "Regulation aims to prioritize local professionals and improve safety.",
    "Applicants must be Malaysian citizens with valid certifications."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}