Missing catamaran last seen near Pulau Sapi - Witness

A tourist boat skipper claimed the last time he saw the missing Catamaran carrying 31 people including 28 tourists from China was near Pulau Sapi, near here.

The skipper who did not want his name to be published said at that time he was on a separate boat with 32 tourists from China to Pulau Mengalum, departing from the Tanjung Aru jetty with the Catamaran at 9am yesterday.

According to the skipper, not long after he overtook the Catamaran because it was moving rather slowly and did not see it until he arrived at Pulau Mengalum.

He did not know what happened to the Catamaran.

"Our boat was ahead (of the Catamaran) when we headed for Pulau Mengalum. Indeed, we saw the boat but it was moving slowly," he told Bernama here today.

The weather yesterday morning was good, said the skipper.

The is believed to have capsized while heading to Pulau Mengalum, about 56 km northwest of Kota Kinabalu, from the Tanjung Aru jetty here at 9am yesterday. -- BERNAMA