TAWAU: The body of a man reported missing and believed to be a drowning victim was found on Monday during a three-day search and rescue (SAR) operation, here.
Tawau Zone Maritime Director Captain Maritime Siva Kumar Vengadasalam said Nurul Masalan Sabran’s body was found at 10.30am in Pulau Sebatik waters.
According to Siva, Nurul, 34, went to his farm at Sg Melayu on June 5 at 12.30pm.
Prior to the incident, the victim’s cousin had informed the victim’s younger sibling that he had not returned home for nearly 24 hours and a boat was believed to have disappeared at sea.
Later, a boat was found stranded along Ice Box waters on June 6.
Earlier, Siva received information about the discovery of a dead body by nearby residents, which was later handed over to the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas).
“The Malaysian Maritime (Tawau Maritime Zone) then deployed Kilat 45, a patrol boat, to help escort the Basarnas team in transporting the corpse.
“The victim’s body was believed to have drifted to a location of about 9.9 nautical miles southeast of Tinagat waters and was taken to the Tawau Malaysia Maritime Jetty around 12.05pm for body identification by family members,” he said.
Siva said the SAR operation ended at 12.15pm on Monday after the victim’s body was identified.
He added the three-day SAR operation involved approximately 50 officers and members from the Tawau Maritime Zone, Royal Malaysian Police - Marine Police Force and the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM).
Also involved were the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) and Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), who were assisted by the Tawau PAS Youth Charity Unit members and villagers around Pulau Sebatik waters.
He also urged the maritime community in Tawau to always priorities safety, such as having communication equipment and safety jackets when going out to sea.
Any information on accidents, crimes and misconduct at sea, especially in Tawau waters, can be reported by contacting the Tawau Malaysia Maritime Operations Center at 089-750116 or MERS 999 emergency assistance.
