By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Dec 27: The search and rescue (Carilamat) operation to locate the last victim of the local fishing vessel that sank in Pulau Burong waters on Dec 17, has been called off on its fifth day after no clues were found regarding his whereabouts.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Sarawak director, First Admiral Kamal Ariffin Jusoh, said that there were no new findings on the missing victim identified as Chaloem Sonada, 64, a Thai national.
“The Op Carilamat was concluded at 6pm today. However, the operation will resume if any new leads emerge,” he said in a statement.
As of today, the search area covered 439.97 nautical square miles, bringing the total search radius from day one to day five to 1,671.92 nautical square miles, covering waters from Tanjung Sipang to Triso.
A total of 10 agencies were involved in this Op Carilamat, namely the MMEA, Marine Police Force (PPM), Sarawak Coast Guard (SCG), Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), Civil Defence Force (APM), Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB), Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Royal Malaysia Police’s Air Operation Force (PGU), as well as indirect assistance from the Malaysian Port Department Sarawak (JLM), Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), and the Fisheries Department of Sarawak (JPLS).
For any information, complaints, or maritime emergencies, the public can contact the Sarawak State Maritime Operations Centre at 082-432544 or 082-432016, or the emergency line 999 for immediate response.
On Dec 17, a local fishing vessel, which carried six foreign nationals onboard—two Indonesians, three Cambodians, and one Thai, went missing in Pulau Burong waters.
The incident came to light after a report was filed by a local complainant at 6.43pm on Dec 23, prompting the activation of Op Carilamat.
Five of the six crew members have since been rescued.
On Dec 23, a local fishing vessel rescued three individuals—Khlok Sem, 32 (Cambodian); Andikah, 24 (Indonesian); and Irman, 23 (Indonesian)—who were found in the waters off Tanjung Sipang wearing life jackets.
Another crew member, Thy Ny, 41 (Cambodian), was found by a tugboat 3.87 nautical miles west of Tanjung Po and brought to shore at Sibu jetty.
On Dec 24, Ouen Van, 37 (Cambodian), was found safe near Sungai Serpan, Asajaya, Kota Samarahan. — DayakDaily
