KUANTAN, Nov 8 — A boat with four anglers on board that went missing nine months ago in Pahang waters was found by a fisherman 14 kilometres offshore last Friday.
However, the four victims, who are believed dead, were not found.
Marine Operations Force (MOF) Region Three commander ACP Azmi Ibrahim said a fisherman, Foo Chung Fook, 40, who was diving in the area to free a stuck net found the wreck of the boat on the seabed last Friday.
“Following his report, MOF divers went to the scene since last Saturday and were able to refloat the yellow-coloured fibre-glass boat which is powered by a Yamaha 60HP outboard engine at 5.30pm today.
“The boat and contents inside were towed to the MOF base here for identification by families of the victims,” he told reporters at the base.
On February 20, four friends, Baheruzaman Yusof, 40, Ayzzat Rahmat Yaakop, 40, Rahmat Chik, 51 and Karim Zakaria, 41, were reported missing after going out fishing.
The ensuing Search and Rescue Operation (SAR) that lasted three weeks failed to locate them.
Prior to this, police had not dismissed the possibility that their boat broken down or had met with an accident.
Meanwhile, family members of the victim who had been called to the jetty could hardly hold back their tears on seeing the boat.
Abdul Razak Hamzah, 48, a cousin of the boat’s owner Baheruzaman, confirmed the boat indeed belonged to him.
“I am sad but have to accept this is fated. Some of the items found in the boat belonged to him,” he said. — Bernama
