KUALA SELANGOR, Sept 23 — The search for the last missing angler at One Fathom Bank near Pulau Ketam, Klang, has yet to yield any new leads, although the Selangor branch of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) continues routine patrols in the waters off Selangor and the Perak border.
Its director Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh said the search and rescue (SAR) operation had been concluded, but patrols were still being carried out with the cooperation of local fishermen and the maritime community.
“Until now, no new leads have been found. Any information can be channelled directly to MMEA for further action,” he told reporters after officiating the deployment of 18 artificial reefs by the Fisheries Department at the Kuala Selangor Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) Jetty here today.
Muhaimin said the chances of finding the remaining One Fathom Bank victim are growing slimmer due to the length of time at sea, but MMEA would keep up efforts to locate him.
The six-day operation, involving sea and air searches, covered 3,887 square nautical miles in waters off Selangor and Perak, including Hutan Melintang and Bagan Datuk.
Selangor MMEA launched the operation on September 14 after receiving a report at 3.35am on the disappearance of seven anglers at One Fathom Bank.
Four victims were found safe, while two others, Muhammad Ridzuan Ruhaizat, 37, and Mohamad Shahril Abd Rahman, 43, were found dead in waters off Hutan Melintang on September 16 and 17. One more angler, Raja Mohd Rozi Raja Mahamud, 49, is still missing.
