KUALA NERUS: The Terengganu state government will be serious in making sure that residents and tourists taking part in sea-based activities in the state wear life jackets.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman said the habit of wearing of life jacket should instilled on everyone who are taking part in fishing, boating and other sea-related activities in the near future.
He said so far, it was not being consistently practiced despite awareness on its importance in solving safety problems.
"From now on, wearing life jacket should be made compulsory for anyone who wants to go out to sea," he said, adding that a meeting will be held soon with related agencies and stakeholders to discuss the issue.
"We should also make it a habit...to avoid untowards incident," he said, after visiting Kasiah Harun, 45, at Pantai Telok Ketapang today where a search and rescue operation was underway to locate her husband, Wan Abd Manan Wan Ahmad, 49, who was reported missing near Seberang Takir beach since Saturday.
Ahmad Razif, who was accompanied by several officers, spent about 20 minutes taking to Kasiah, her relatives and the SAR team at the site.
Kasiah when met said her husband left home at 6.30am to go fishing on his new fibre boat, which he bought in Kedah nearly two months ago.
"I’m leaving now and will always love you," were the last words uttered by Manan before leaving their home in Jalan Kenari, Seberang Takir.
Yesterday, rescuers found the boat stranded by the Telok Ketapang beach.
“It is not even two months since he bought the boat," she said. adding that prior to this, Manan was using his family's old boat, until he decided to sell it last year.
"My husband said it is safer to go fishing with the new boat," she said.
“I hope and pray that he is safe and will be found by the search and rescue team,” she said.
State Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director Captain Maritime Zainolabidin Jusoh said as of 7pm today, the victim has yet to be found.
A total of 154 people including firemen, policemen, Civil Defence Force personnel, MMEA officers and local fishermen were involved in the search effort.