MMEA deploys ship to search for 4 missing fishermen

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has deployed 16 personnel in a ship to locate a boat carrying four fishermen, which was reported missing in the waters off Kemaman since June 21.

Kemaman Maritime Base chief enforcement officer, Lieutenant Commander Norhafizi Mohd Rafik said the search and rescue (SAR) operation for the boat began since 1pm on Saturday.

He said the SAR operation was extended within a radius of 30 nautical miles from the waters off Kemaman, for fear the fishing boat might have drifted away.

"Upon receiving a police report, we alerted the patrol vessel, KM Gemia to track the class B fishing boat.

"It is the second day of the operation and we are left with no clue whatsoever, regarding the missing boat and the four fishermen," he said when met at his office here on Sunday.

Norhafizi said the MMEA had not ruled out the fact that the fishing boat's engine might have stalled and as a result, it might have been swept away by strong currents.

He said the MMEA personnel, together with local fishermen had scoured several locations where the missing four usually fished but failed to find them.

The fishermen have been identified as Azuari Muda @ Abu Bakar, 41; Mohd Zawawi Seman, 36; Mohd Nasri Ab Wahab, 29; and, Ab Wahab Tekak, 57.

They are from Kemaman and had gone out to sea at 6am on June 21.