Man believed swept out to sea in KB

Kota Kinabalu:  A 21-year-old man was reported missing after he was believed to have been swept out to sea while looking for shellfish near Pulau Keramat, Rampaian Laut, Kota Belud, Wednesday.

Sabah and Labuan Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Director First Admiral (Maritime) Mohd Rosli Abdullah said the victim, identified as Mohd Hafizan Abdul Muara, of Kampung Rampaian, Kota Belud, had set off on foot with three friends to look for shellfish before they realised he was missing at 3pm.

“The villagers, upon told of the incident, helped to search for the victim but it was in vain,” he said in a statement, Thursday.

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Mohd Rosli said a search and rescue operation was activated at 7.30pm on Wednesday and it was resumed at 7am on Thursday.

“The Sabah State Maritime has mobilised Guard Boat 38 to the location and is being assisted by assets from the Royal Malaysian Police, Royal Malaysian Navy and the Malaysian Civil Defence Force,” he said.

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Maritime Malaysia is seeking the co-operation from the maritime community to report any emergencies around the waters of Kota Kinabalu by calling the Sabah State Maritime Operations Centre at 088-387774 and the MERS 999 line.