The clip which went viral on social media last week shows a man repeatedly grabbing the turtle by its shell and neck while snorkeling, as several others surround the animal and block it from surfacing, the South China Morning Post reported.
At one point, the man appears to stand on the turtle’s shell as it struggles to swim away.
Marine conservation group Tropical Research and Conservation Center Borneo condemned the act, describing the behavior as “deeply disturbing and unacceptable,” New Straits Times reported.
The group advised the public or witnesses to document such incidents safely and report them to the relevant authorities instead of confronting offenders directly.
The footage ignited anger online, with many Malaysians urging stricter enforcement and bans on operators that enable such conduct.
“Don’t do such stupid things. Boatmen always remind us not to touch turtles,” a netizen wrote.
“Absolutely disgusting behavior! They should be fired for such unethical practices which is reflecting of the company they work for,” another wrote.
“Bloody tourists are simply hideous! People who do this should be slapped with hefty fine,” another commented.
Redang Island, about 45 km off Peninsular Malaysia’s east coast, lies within the Redang Marine Park and serves as a key nesting site for endangered green and hawksbill turtles, both protected under Malaysian law.
Malaysia’s Fisheries Act prohibits catching, touching, or harassing marine animals within marine park boundaries, with penalties of up to RM100,000 (US$24,000) or two years’ imprisonment.
Authorities have launched a probe into the case, and the nationalities of those in the video remain unknown.