ISKANDAR PUTERI: A search and rescue operation for a missing fisherman has been temporarily postponed due to the bad weather and dark conditions.
The victim was identified as Alpaizar Abd Mois, who was in his 40s.
“The SAR operation, which started at 9.10am today (Oct 6) after we received an emergency call at 9.01am,’’ Operation commander senior officer 1, Saifulizam Ismail, said in a statement on Saturday.
Saifulizam said the victim was with a friend, also a fisherman from Kampung Tebing Runtuh, on their way to the sea when their boat suddenly sank about 100 metres from the cliff.
“Fishermen who were nearby managed to save Alpaizar’s friend, also in his 40s, before the arrival of our operation team,’’ he added.
Saifulizam said the team immediately conducted surface searching for Alpaizar in the nearby location where he was last seen.
“Our Water Rescue Unit divers also made a dive to a depth of 20 meters at a distance of 100 metres from the cliff at 6.33pm, but the victim was not found,’’ he said.
Saifulizam said the operation involved 12 firemen from Iskandar Puteri Fire Station and divers from Skudai Water Rescue Unit Fire Rescue Station.
The team was assisted by four policemen, three personnel from the Malaysian Civil Defence Force, four personnel from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, two army men and three Marine Police personnel.
“The SAR operation will resume again tomorrow (Oct 7),’’ he said.
