Seven fishermen stranded at sea for almost a week rescued

KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has rescued seven crew members of a fishing boat which was stranded in the waters off Sabah's west coast for almost a week.
However, Kota Kinabalu MMEA director First Admiral (Maritime) Adam Aziz said the search and rescue (SAR) operations for two missing crew were still ongoing.
"On Dec 17, nine people, aged between 28 and 52, were believed to have boarded a boat bearing registration number PR 2054/2/F from the Gaya Island to the Mengalum Island for fishing. However, the boat experienced engine failure after arriving near the Mengalum Island.
"The next day, the boat owner, identified as Iman @ Dimas Tampas, and two other crew members – Noradin Majuki and Moso – had used a 'sampan' (small boat) for help but it capsized about 40km away from the fishing boat," he told a press conference here today.
Adam said the incident occurred when the three fishermen were paddling towards the Gaya Island.
Prior to that, they attempted to approach one of the oil rigs near the Mengalum Island in which the offshore workers had offered help but failed in their bid due to being hit by strong waves, he said.
Adam said MMEA received the distress call from the MV Nur Amanah vessel, about 11 nautical miles off the Mengalum Island, at 10.45 am on Wednesday.
According to him, Noradin was rescued by the MMEA about 2.40 pm yesterday at approximately five nautical miles off the Mantanani Island and was later taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital here.
"The fishing boat was adrift for about five days (since Dec 17). The six crew on board decided to swim for approximately 11 hours to the Mantanani Island using life vests before they asked for help from the Islanders," he said.
Adam said the villagers then alerted the MMEA before the agency deployed its KM Berani vessel at 8 pm yesterday to take the fishermen to the MMEA jetty in Sepanggar.
Meanwhile, boat skipper Abdul Si Misil, 52, said their initial plan was to be at the sea for fishing until this Sunday before the boat experienced the engine failure.
"However, we ran out of food supply since last Wednesday because most of our supply had fallen into the sea as our boat was hit by the big waves.
"We leave it to Allah if we are fated to die over there but Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah), we are still given a second chance," said the man who was overcome by emotion. — Bernama