The 20-second clip, which was widely circulated on social media, shows a man repeatedly grabbing the turtle by its shell and neck while snorkelling off Redang Island, part of a popular marine park in Terengganu state.
Several people can be seen surrounding the animal, preventing it from surfacing. At one point, the man appears to stand on the turtle’s shell as it struggles to swim away.
Marine conservation group the Tropical Research and Conservation Centre Borneo condemned the man’s actions, describing it as yet another case of turtle harassment fuelled by ignorance or tour operators pursuing “the best experience”.
“This behaviour is deeply disturbing and concerning and should never be endorsed,” the group said in a statement.
“Although turtles can hold their breath for long periods, they still need to surface for air because they have lungs, not gills. If a turtle becomes trapped underwater or cannot reach the surface, it can drown just like any other air-breathing animal.”
