GEORGE TOWN: Remember the man who jumped into the sea near Tanjung City Marina here on July 12 to swim across to Seberang Prai to meet a friend after failing to obtain approval for inter-district travel, only to be rescued by Penang Port Sdn Bhd workers after he gave up mid-way?
The same 28-year-old has now been detained by the authorities after jumping from the same spot. This time, he said he wanted to go to Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Video footage and photographs of yesterday's incident have gone viral on social media.
Northeast district police chief Assistant Commissioner Soffian Santong said the man was rescued by the marine police shortly after jumping into the sea at the same spot.
He said about 4.55pm, police received a call from the public about a man found floating in the middle of the sea near Tanjung City Marina here.
"Initial investigation showed that both incidents involved the same man. This time, the man said he wanted to reach to the holy Muslim city of Makkah.
"Following the incident, the man has been taken to Penang Hospital for treatment and mental health evaluation. He is now at the Jalan Perak psychiatric ward for further treatment," he said today, adding the man's urine test for drug came back negative.
On July 12 incident, the same man jumped into the sea near Tanjung City Marina here to swim across to Seberang Prai after failing to obtain approval for inter-district travel to meet a friend.
He was rescued by Penang Port Sdn Bhd workers when he stopped mid way due to fatigue. Video footage and photographs of the incident also went viral
Soffian said man was taken to Penang Hospital and checks showed that he did suffer mental problems then.
However, his parents took him to undergo treatment for drug addiction at the National Anti-Drug Agency.