By Aida Aziz
PARIT BUNTAR: A fisherman who was believed to be missing after going out to sea alone to fish early Wednesday morning was found drowned, entangled in a fishing net in the waters off Tanjung Piandang, Kuala Kurau.
Kuala Kurau Maritime Zone Director, Maritime Commander Mohd Hairil Othman, said the victim, Mohd Hafifi Harun, 30, was discovered by a local fisherman who happened to pass through the area.
He stated that the victim’s body was found drowned at around 8 a.m. on Wednesday.
“The disappearance was noticed by the local fishing community, who immediately launched a search effort. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Kuala Kurau Maritime Zone received official information from the police and activated a search and rescue operation.
“Close cooperation and vigilance from local fishermen helped speed up the discovery of the victim.
“The victim reportedly went out to sea around 3 a.m. and was found drowned a few hours later after his boat was spotted adrift without anyone on board.
“He was found in a heartbreaking condition, entangled in a fishing net, not far from where his boat had been located,” he said in a statement issued last night.
He added that the victim’s body was brought to a nearby jetty and handed over to the police for further action, including identification and documentation.
He further emphasized that the tragedy once again highlights the safety risks faced by fishermen who venture out alone, without emergency support or informing family or friends of their location.
Maritime Malaysia urges all members of the maritime community to take appropriate safety measures, such as wearing life jackets, using location tracking systems, and avoiding going to sea alone—especially at night.
