Penang national park closed due to search for two missing men

The Penang National Park has been temporarily closed from Sunday to facilitate the search for two men who went missing after being overcome by strong waves that killed a woman in Pantai Kerachut, Teluk Bahang, near here yesterday.

Penang National Park superintendent Saat Yaakob said even the second entrance to the park from Kuala Sungai Pinang, Balik Pulau, has been closed to the public.

"Any inconvenience caused is most regretted. The reopening date and time will be announced after the completion of the search-and-rescue operation," he told Bernama.

Visitors could obtain the latest news at the information centre of the park open to the public from 8 am to 6 pm, he said.

Saat also said that the national park was also helping in the search-and-rescue operation with the aid of a boat.

The area of the search has been extended to the waters off Balik Pulau, and a helicopter is also being used.

The operation involves more than 40 personnel, including from the Northern Region Marine Police, Fire and Rescue Service, the Police and Department of Civil Defence.

A woman, identified as P. Yogambigai, 24, drowned and two men, Ku Muhammad Ilyas Ku Abdul Halim, 19, and Ashwanpaljit Singh Charnjit Singh, 22, went missing while bathing at the beach.

The three were among 24 workers of a factory in Prai near here who had gone to the beach for a dip in the water after participating in a team-building camp at the national park.