'Missing' anglers found, safe and sound

All fishermen who were feared missing after their boat reportedly capsized about 10 nautical miles south of Pulau Payar last night, have been found safe this afternoon.

The group of 19 anglers were rescued by a ‘Class B’ fishing boat around 2.30pm.

Kuala Kedah MMEA chief, Lt Comm Ahmad Kamal Mohd Noor said the victims’ boat actually suffered a leak and drifted away, not capsized as reported.

The actual number of anglers also stood at 19, not 15 as reported.

According to Ahmad Kamal’s statement, all the victims were still in the boat when they were found some 18 nautical miles from where the incident happened.

He said at first the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency received a distress call from the boat’s radio, saying the boat was on the verge of sinking.

However, further investigation revealed that the boat had drifted due to a leak.

In the rescue process, the victims’ boat was towed by the Class B fishing boat and was expected to arrive at the Kuala Kedah MMEA base four hours later.

All victims were transferred onto the Class B fishing boat before the towing.