Penang Umno urged the state government to review the water sports ban it imposed in coastal areas in the state.

Penang Umno chief Zainal Abidin Osman said the state government should think of the interest of 12 water sport operators and about 200 workers who had lost their income following the ban.

"The ban has also affected tourist arrivals. They may no longer want to come to Penang because of the ban on water sports," he said when met at the handing over of Bank Persatuan bursaries, in Kepala Batas today.

He said the state government should have tried to find other more effective ways to address issues related to water sport accidents in these tourist spots and not taking the easy way out.

"They could have put in place guidelines and enforcement to prevent any accident," he said.

News reports have cited accidents in coastal tourist spots such as Batu Ferringhi and Tanjung Bungah as the reason for the ban.

- Bernama