May 26, 2026
World
World
SYDNEY, May 26 — A group of seven women and 12 children believed to be linked to Islamic State fighters are returning to Australia after spending years in Syria, the Australian interior minister said Tuesday.
SEMPORNA, May 26 — Physical damage to the marine ecosystem at the Pulau Selakan Coral Reef Restoration Site here, caused by recent fish bombing activities, will face firm legal action from the Sabah state government.
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the incident, which destroyed about 15 square metres of reef, has disrupted coral reef conservation efforts carried out by various parties over the past two years.
He said an assessment by the Tun Sakaran Marine Park Research Unit today confirmed that at least 10 reef star structures were affected, with key coral species such as Acropora, Pocillopora and Montipora destroyed.
“Preliminary estimates indicate that maintenance and restoration costs for the affected area could reach RM96,000, while damage to the reef star structures is estimated at RM3,000,” he said in a statement today.
Commenting on the May 23 incident, Jafry said the suspects are believed to have escaped before enforcement teams arrived due to open maritime borders and operational constraints.
He added that he has instructed Sabah Parks management to immediately enhance strategic measures, including increasing boat assets, deploying drone technology, and setting up permanent control posts in high-risk areas.
He stressed that the state government will not tolerate any party threatening biodiversity sustainability and Sabah’s tourism image, and urged the maritime community to report any suspicious activities. — Bernama
