Kelantan govt to give monetary aid to families of drowned anglers

The Kelantan government has come forward to provide monetary aid to the families of those involved in a boat tragedy where the vessel capsized after it was caught in a storm about 10 nautical miles from the Kuala Kemasin Base Jetty here, last night.

Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob said the donation would be made through the Tabung Serambi Mekah to the families of the victims after detailed information was collected by the state government.

"We are currently organising the financial aid (to the victims' families)," he told reporters after checking on the search and rescue (SAR) operation at the fishing jetty in Kuala Kemasin here, today.

Also present were State Welfare, Family and Women Development Committee chairman Mumtaz Md Nawi, Pasir Mas member of Parliament Ahmad Fadhli Shaari and Kelantan police chief Datuk Hasanuddin Hassan

It is learned that a RM1,000 emergency fund will be provided to the families of the deceased and RM500 to the families of the survivors.

In the meantime, Ahmad also advised recreational water sports enthusiasts to comply with all standard operating procedures (SOPs) for water activities, especially using safety jackets.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Fadhli said a donation of RM1,000 would be given to each family of the deceased from Pasir Mas.

He said the donation would be channelled through the Pasir Mas Service Centre.

Yesterday, a boat carrying 20 anglers including the skipper and crew, aged between 18 and 60 years, capsized following a storm about 10 nautical miles from the Kuala Kemasin Base Jetty.

In the 8 pm incident, four men drowned, four are missing and another 12 were confirmed to be safe.

The dead were identified as Mohd Syahrizan Daud, in his 40s, Muhamad Zaki Muhamad Nordin, 19, Wan Aminudin Wan Hussin, in his 60s and a Thai citizen known only as Pokta, in his 50s.

-- BERNAMA