KUALA LUMPUR: The identity of four crewmen of a Johor Fisheries Department boat which went missing en route to Pangkalan Tampoi from Pengerang have been identified as Fatimah Razak, 36; Zaharin Baharudin, 37; Halim Sanip, 52, and Marzuki Jusuh, 53.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the crew, led by Fatimah, were on their way to Pangkalan Tampoi for a joint patrol with the Marine Police Force (PPM).
"However, around 4pm yesterday, the department could not contact the boat and it cannot be traced until now," he said at a press conference in Parliament House today.
He added search and rescue (SAR) operations had been ordered and they will be led by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) alongside the Malaysian Marine Police (PPM) Singapore Police Operations Command Centre (POCC) and Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas).
Mohamad said the Fisheries Department has also been instructed to assist the family members of the crew.
"I call on all Malaysians to pray for the safety of the crewmen and hope they will be found safely."
Meanwhile, Rear Admiral (M) Datuk Saiful Lizan Ibrahim said the boat with the number PL78 was last detected in the waters of Tuas at about 3pm yesterday based on information received from Singaporean authorities.
"The boat was heading to the western side of Tanjung Piai, some five nautical miles in the Tuas waters at 3pm.
"The weather in waters of the southern Johor was quite bad yesterday evening. Hence, there is a possibility that there is damage to the boat or it was swept into international waters."
He said that four boats and one helicopter belonging to MMEA, two boats from PMM, one from the Fisheries Department and one from Singapore POCC will be deployed for SAR operations.
"As of noon today, MMEA has searched up to 47 nautical miles in the waters and 46 nautical miles on air. However, the rainy weather has limited and made operations difficult."
Yesterday, a report on the missing boat was lodged with the Johor Baru Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC).
State Maritime director First Admiral Nurul Hizam Zakaria said the boat could not be contacted and failed to be traced after departing from Tanjung Pengelih, Pengerang, at about 12.45pm yesterday.
It was scheduled to arrive at Pangkalan Tampoi here at 6.30pm the same day.