Second body recovered as search continues for missing Pulau Ketam anglers

KLANG, Sept 17 — Another body, believed to be one of the anglers missing off One Fathom Bank near Pulau Ketam on Sunday, was found floating off Hutan Melintang, Perak, late this afternoon.

Selangor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) operations officer, Maritime Lieutenant Mohd Syafiq Sazali said a local fishing boat spotted a man’s body floating at 4.26 pm.

“The discovery was immediately relayed to Perak MMEA for further action.

“The MMEA vessel KM Nusa, conducting search operations in the area, proceeded to the location about three nautical miles from the Selangor–Perak maritime boundary,” he told reporters at the Search and Rescue (SAR) Forward Operating Base at the Sementa Jetty here today.

Mohd Syafiq added that the latest recovery was about two nautical miles from where the first victim, Mohd Shahril Abd Rahman, was found yesterday.

“The body, wearing a life jacket, will be brought ashore at the Hutan Melintang Jetty. Police will handle formal identification with family members or next of kin,” he said.

Meanwhile, the family of missing angler Muhammad Ridzuan Ruhaizat, 37, remains hopeful he will be found safe.

The victim’s uncle, Khairul Muhidin, 47, said he last met his nephew, a contractor with a utility company, at his Jalan Kebun residence on September 4, where they mostly chatted about work.

“On the night of the incident (Sunday), I was shocked when family members informed me. I immediately dialled the 999 emergency line,” he told reporters at the Sementa Jetty.

Khairul said the family is hopeful Muhammad Ridzuan is safe. He described his nephew, the fourth of six siblings and an avid angler, as resilient, noting he was wearing a life jacket during the incident.

“He might have held onto something or a container to stay afloat. Our main concern is dehydration at sea,” he said.

Khairul said two other relatives who survived the incident, namely Mohd Rizal Mohamad Sadali and Muhd Hamiszar Punirain, both 45, are reported to be in stable condition.

“Mohd Rizal was transferred to a private hospital in Shah Alam, while Muhd Hamiszar, who suffered neck injuries, is being treated at Hospital Banting. Both are stable but remain traumatised by the ordeal,” he said.

Earlier, Selangor Menteri Besar’s Political secretary Saifuddin Shafi Muhammad, visited the victim’s family and received a briefing on the latest developments of the incident.

Besides Mohd Rizal and Muhd Hamiszar, the other survivors were Mohd Shairazi Abdul Aziz, 43, and boat skipper Zulfikalnain Awang, 47. The four were rescued on the second day of the SAR.

The two remaining missing victims are Muhammad Ridzuan and Raja Mohd Rozi Raja Mohamad, 49. — Bernama