ALOR SETAR: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has activated a search and rescue (SAR) operation after a Thai fisherman was believed to have fallen into the sea while hauling a fishing net about 27 nautical miles west of Tanjung Dawai, Kedah.
Kuala Kedah Maritime Zone director Commander (M) Noor Azreyanti Ishak said the agency received information on the incident at 4.23pm on Sunday (Aug 16) involving a crew member of a local fishing vessel who was believed to have fallen overboard while fishing.
She said the missing man was identified as Nattapong Phakhokthom, a Thai national.
“Following a police report lodged by the boat owner yesterday afternoon, the Langkawi Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) activated the SAR operation at 5pm,” she said in a statement.
She said MMEA vessel Perkasa 1226 from the Kuala Kedah Maritime Zone headquarters was deployed to the location to conduct an initial search.
“However, the operation had to be temporarily suspended due to bad weather and rough seas, which could endanger the safety of personnel and assets involved,” she said.
Noor Azreyanti said the search operation would resume once weather conditions permitted.
She added that members of the public with information about the incident or any maritime emergency could contact the Kuala Kedah Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 04-731 0579 or call 999.
