The search and rescue (SAR) team for two fishermen who went missing yesterday has detected the mobile phone signal from one of the men.

Tangkak district police chief Supt Mohad Idris Samsuri said the signal was detected from the mobile phone of Johari Abu Bakar, 46, in the waters off Merlimau in Melaka at 10.30pm the same day.

"This finding somehow gives a new lead to the SAR team to narrow down the search area," he told reporters at the Kesang Laut fishing jetty here today.

However, Mohad Idris said the police could not ascertain whether the mobile phone was attached to the victim's body or had drifted away.

Prior to this, the team found another mobile phone signal in the waters between Kuala Sebatu in Merlimau and Sungai Kesang here.

In JOHOR BAHRU, Johor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (Operations) SAC I Mohd Rizal Buang said the department received the report at 5.17pm yesterday.

He said the SAR operations were mounted immediately involving the Tangkak and Muar Fire and Rescue Stations; Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA); Muar and Tangkak police personnel; and the Kuala Kesang Fisherman Association.

"The operation resumes today at 8.03am involving 28 fire and rescue personnel, 12 MMEA members, 10 policemen and seven members from the Civil Defence Force," he said here.

It was reported that Johari and Rizalman Baba, 42, were feared missing after their fishing boat was believed to have been hit by a storm following bad weather about 1.5 nautical miles off the jetty.

The duo had gone to the sea on Wednesday.

-- BERNAMA