It is common in Asia for people to pick up things, touch corals, drag equipment, poke with sticks, grab fish and such. I have seen it many times. I am not sure where it comes from, but it is common. If you dive around Tioman, Aur and Phuket you will see many dead/dying and broken reefs. Some is from pollution, some from the Tsunami in 2004 and some from divers. I am not surprised to read this.