Kuala lumpur: Police have arrested three men to assist in the investigation into a brawl that broke out yesterday on Pulau Timba-Timba, believed to have stemmed from a dispute over the island’s landing fee. Semporna district acting police chief DSP Jaafar Hakim said the three local suspects, aged between 25 and 27, were arrested under Section 147 of the Penal Code for rioting.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the police received a report from a 27-year-old man, who is also the manager of a tour company, claiming that he was attacked by several individuals while taking a group of tourists to Pulau Timba-Timba. Jaafar stated that the complainant claimed his company had paid the organization responsible for fee collection on the island, but another company demanded payment upon their arrival.

The incident had sparked a dispute that escalated into a fight, Jaafar noted. He urged all parties to refrain from making speculation that could spark public outrage and affect Semporna’s reputation as a safe tourist destination. A 38-second video depicting a fight between a group of individuals on Pulau Timba-Timba, which was also witnessed by several foreign tourists, went viral yesterday.