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By TAN SIN CHOW

GEORGE TOWN: Two Australian women were hurt after the water scooter they were riding collided with another scooter at the sea off Batu Ferringhi here.

Neal Justine Iranees, in her 40s, suffered a broken left cheekbone while her daughter Neal Peng Gu, 16, who was riding pillion, suffered injury to her left thigh.

Both have been warded at the Penang Hospital after the 2.20pm incident yesterday.

The other scooter was ridden by K. Darvin and R. Rathavhol, both 15, from Kuala Lumpur, who are on holiday.

Both escaped with minor injuries.

George Town OCPD Asst Comm Gan Kong Meng said initial investigation showed there was some confusion between the riders when one of them was making a turn.

“We have seized the scooters and recorded statements from the teenagers and the water scooter owners.

“We will wrap up investigations soon before handing it over to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for further action,” he said.

He said the case was being investigated under Section 338 of the Penal Code for committing a rash or negligent act that could endanger human life.

The Penang Municipal Council said its board of inquiry committee would investigate the incident.

Its recreation, tourism and inter-national affairs department director Mohamed Akbar Mustapha said the water scooter operators would be called up.

“We will check the cause of the accident and we want to listen to the operators’ side,” he said.

On Sept 6, all water scooter and parasailing activities in Penang were temporarily banned following a spate of accidents involving a number of tourists along the Batu Ferringhi-Tanjung Bungah tourism belt.

However, the ban was lifted after the state government reached an agreement on beach zoning for water sports with the council, water sports operators and hoteliers. [News link]

Posted by admin on December 27, 2011 under Tourism News.