JOHOR BARU: The Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has activated a search and rescue operation around the Johor Straits to help locate a missing Fisheries Department boat and its four crewmen.
Johor Maritime director First Admiral Maritime Nurul Hizam Zakaria said the boat was reported missing while on its way to Pengkalan Tampoi on Tuesday (Feb 28).
“The Johor Baru Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) received a report at 7.51pm on Tuesday evening from the Marine Police Region II about the missing boat.
“The boat, which belongs to the state Fisheries Department, along with four crewmen, could not be contacted and failed to locate after departing from Tanjung Pengelih at around 12.45pm.
“The boat should have arrived at Pengkalan Tampoi here at around 6.30pm,” he said in a statement here on Wednesday morning (March 1).
Nurul Hizam added following the report, MRSC Johor Baru immediately activated the search and rescue operation by deploying two MMEA assets.
He also said the marine police also deployed three of its assets to help the search and rescue operation.
“The search location is being focused around Tuas and Tanjung Piai waters following a report from our Singapore counterparts that the boat's last location was traced in Tuas waters at 3pm on Tuesday.
“Putrajaya Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) is also in contact with Singapore and Indonesia authorities if they have further information or are able to locate the missing boat in their respective waters,” he added.
During a press conference in Parliament on Wednesday Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the missing crew members were Fatimah Razak, 36; Zaharin Baharudin, 37; Halim Sanip, 52; and Marzuki Jusuh, 53.
He said the boat skippered by Fatimah, with number PL87, departed from Tanjung Pengelih and was on its way to a jetty in Tampoi.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) deputy director-general (logistics) Rear Admiral (M) Datuk Saiful Lizan Ibrahim said search and rescue efforts are currently underway by Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.
"Visibility in Johor waters is not good due to rain," added Saiful.
Mohamad said the Fisheries Department would provide support to the families of those missing.
