Man goes missing while fishing in Sg Maaw near Sibu

SIBU: A 63-year-old man has gone missing during a fishing trip on a nearby river here on Saturday (Feb 5).

The family of retiree Sia Yiik Heng, 63, is now worried about his safety.

His 53-year old wife, Ting Yii Sui, reported to authorities that Sia had gone out alone to catch fish on Sungai Maaw, Paradom near here at about 8.15am on Saturday.

According to Ting, Sia usually caught fish in a longboat by himself on the Rajang River.

“He told me that he would return home at about 12.30pm as he had to send our child to the airport,” she said.

When her husband failed to come back, she went out at about 4pm to search for him.

“I saw his car parked near the Nan Chong Jetty at Sungai Maaw,” she said.

The Fire and Rescue Department and the police then mounted a search and rescue operation.

They found the man’s boat at about 9.50am on Sunday (Feb 6) at Tanjung Ensurai, several kilometres away from Nan Chong Jetty but could not find Sia.

Acting Sibu OCPD Supt Dr Collin Babat confirmed the case.