TANJUNG MANIS: Search operations are continuing for a 26-year-old fisherman who was reported missing at sea last Saturday.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Tanjung Manis zone director Maritime Commander Gilbert Tinggak said the operation on Tuesday (Nov 23) expanded its search radius to 92.75 nautical square miles with assets from the Fire Department, Marine Police Force and Civil Defence Force (APM).
The search is also being carried out along the coast of Sungai Paloh to Sedi Jetty and along the Belawai coast to Paloh, with a total of 46 officers and staff at the scene.
He noted that the forward search base established at Kampung Tanjung Sedi public jetty, would be transferred to the Belawai Fisheries Development Authority jetty following telephone and radio communication network problems as well as taking into account the logistical facilities for the rescue assets to resupply.
In addition, the weather was reported to be windy with wind speeds from 20 to 30km per hour and waves pf around 1m to 1.5m high.
On Nov 20, the fisherman identified as Hendry Belaja (nicknamed Boy) was believed to have fallen into the sea after one of the crew members saw him carrying a buoy to the back of the vessel at about 8pm.
It was around 4am the next day when they realised he was nowhere to be found when they were about to start their fishing operation.
An initial search party was conducted but to no avail, thus prompting the crew to lodge a police report for further assistance.
