KLANG, Sept 19 (Bernama) -- The search for another angler reported missing at One Fathom Bank near Pulau Ketam is focused on a 102-square-nautical-mile area in Perak waters, particularly around Bagan Datuk.
Selangor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) operations officer Lieutenant Mohd Azlee Zainal said the search and rescue (SAR) operation entered its sixth day today, with MMEA and several other security agencies resuming the search at 7 am.
He said the search is being conducted at sea using the KM Tugau and the Royal Malaysia Police Marine Operations Force (PPM) RH33 patrol boat.
“The operation is focused on Perak waters, particularly the Bagan Datuk area, about 10 square nautical miles from the location where the bodies of two anglers were found earlier.
“As of 1 pm today, rescue teams had yet to find the last missing victim and had received no new leads,” he said when met at the SAR forward base at Sementa Jetty here today.
Dozens of family members of the missing anglers are still at the forward base, waiting for further updates on the operation.
Mohd Azlee said the operation could face challenges due to today's thunderstorm forecast, but the search would continue and was expected to be suspended at 7 pm.
Meanwhile, Khairul Muhidin, 47, uncle of one of the victims, Muhammad Ridzuan Ruhaizat, 37, said the family had received DNA test results confirming the identity of the angler, enabling them to claim his remains from Sungai Buloh Hospital for burial.
“The remains will be taken to Masjid An-Naim in Jalan Kebun for the funeral prayers before being buried at the Jalan Kebun Barat Muslim Cemetery in Kampung Jalan Kebun, Shah Alam, after Asar prayers today,” he said when contacted today.
Klang Utara district police chief ACP Ramsay Embol yesterday confirmed that the body of a second angler, believed to be Muhammad Ridzuan, was found in the waters off Hutan Melintang at 4.26 pm on Thursday, bringing the number of missing anglers found so far to six.
Four of the anglers were found safe, while two have died, including Mohd Shahril Abd Rahman, 43, whose body was found in the waters off Hutan Melintang at 8.30 am on Wednesday. Raja Mohd Rozi Raja Mahamud, 49, has yet to be found.
-- BERNAMA