BATU PAHAT: Two fishermen drowned after falling from their boat while fishing near Kuala Sungai Suloh here.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency activated a search and rescue operation after two fishermen were reported missing.
Batu Pahat Maritime Zone director Commander Mohammad Zaini Zainal said they received a report from the son of one victim at about 12.20pm on Saturday (April 26), after the two fishermen failed to return home following a fishing trip on Friday (April 25) at 3pm.
"Maritime Malaysia’s Petir 51 boat was deployed to the location immediately upon receiving the report," he said.
"The body of the first victim, Mahat Rasiman, 77, was found at about 1pm, followed by the second victim, Mohamad Nizam Sarman, 51, roughly 45 minutes later.
"Both bodies were located approximately 0.3 nautical miles southwest of Kuala Sungai Suloh," he said in a statement on Sunday (April 27).
Commander Mohammad Zaini said initial investigations suggested both victims may have slipped and fallen overboard from their fibreglass boat.
The bodies were brought to the Batu Pahat Maritime Zone jetty before being handed over to the police for post-mortem and identification procedures.
Maritime Malaysia reminded the maritime community to prioritise safety at sea, especially during bad weather and rough sea conditions.
For emergencies at sea, the public can contact the Batu Pahat Maritime Zone operations centre at 07-434 4020 or via the MERS 999 emergency line.
