BINTULU: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Bintulu Zone launched a search and rescue (SAR) operation yesterday, in regards to a report made of a fisherman missing since May 13.
The operation started at 7am in which, the SAR team searched for the whereabouts of Aziz Ja’afar Atahar, 69, whom on May 13 around 7.30pm went out fishing and is missing until now.
His last known location was assumed to be at Muara Batang Kemena.
According to MMEA Bintulu Zone deputy director (operations) Commander (Maritime) Effendy Mohamed Fadil, a boat was mobilised for the SAR operation.
“The radius of the SAR operation ranged some 50 square nautical miles, around 80km square metres from the shore of Batang Kemena to the sea,” he said.
He also said that the operation received assistance from the marine police force with two boats and the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) with a boat and a four-wheel drive vehicle.
“The SAR operation will continue on until the victim is found. In accordance to this incident, I urge the public especially fishermen to secure their safety before heading out to sea,” he said.
MMEA Bintulu also hopes that the community could reveal any source of information in accordance to the incident.
At the same time, MMEA Bintulu welcomes information to report any illegal activities through their 24-hour hotline at 086 – 314 254.
