Fishing boat with 12 Malaysians missing in Pulau Aur waters

A fishing boat, carrying 12 Malaysians including 10 anglers, which went out to sea since Tuesday (May 17) is believed to be missing in the Pulau Aur waters, off Mersing.

Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Rahmat Othman said the report on their disappearance was lodged by the owner of the boat at about 6.30pm yesterday after the boat could not be contacted.

He said they had gone fishing on Tuesday (May 17) and should have returned two days ago on Thursday (May 19).

"The last position the boat was detected was in the waters of Pulau Aur, Mersing, about four nautical miles from Pulau Jemaja, Indonesia.

"The search and rescue operation was now being mobilised involving various agencies including the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and the Marine Operations Force," he said when contacted by Bernama, here today.

Meanwhile, in a statement here, Maritime District 7 MMEA Operations Officer, Maritime Lieutenant Khairol Azwan Kasim said the search by his men now was focused on the Pulau Aur area involving a ship and a boat.