Two on missing list are alive and well, says family member

Two men listed among those still missing after an express boat capsized in the Rajang River near Belaga, about 155km from here, last Tuesday, are actually alive and back at their longhouse, a family source said today.

Connie Menai told reporters here today that her uncle, Akong Empam, 50 and cousin, Hendry Linggi, 35, who were in the missing list after the incident were now resting at their longhouse, Rumah Panjang Berundang, Nanga Ensawi, about a two-hour boat ride upriver from here.

"After learning that their names were mentioned among those still missing over the radio last night, I came here together with my husband to lodge a police report to explain the real situation," she said when met at the district police headquarters, here.

According to her, the duo told her that after jumping off the sinking express boat "Kawan Mas", the strong river current had enabled them to be drifted for about one kilometre before a crew on board a barge spotted and picked them up.

"It was only by about noon last Tuesday that they reached our longhouse... tired, wet and only wearing their underwear," she added.