Indonesian fisherman found safe after 9 days adrift at sea

KUANTAN: An Indonesian fisherman who went missing after his boat lost contact at sea was found safe near Pulau Tioman on Oct 15, nine days after departing from Indonesia.

The fisherman, identified as Bachtiar, 61, was found by the public about 22 nautical miles east of the island.

Pahang Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency director First Admiral Datuk Mazlan Mat Rejab said the boat had departed from Letung in Indonesia's Anambas Islands Regency on Oct 6 before contact was lost.

"The Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre (MRSC) in Kuantan received information about the missing boat from its Indonesian counterpart via email on Oct 14. The Johor Baru MRSC subsequently informed us that the boat had been spotted by members of the public on Oct 15.

"The MMEA then deployed its Perkasa 1246 boat to the location near Pulau Tioman. The fisherman was brought to the island at 3.10am yesterday and taken to the Tekek Health Clinic for a medical check-up," he said in a statement today.

He said investigations revealed that the fisherman had lost contact after his boat ran out of fuel, leaving it adrift at sea.

He said the agency had contacted the Indonesian Consulate to inform it of the discovery and coordinate arrangements, including the necessary documentation and the fisherman's return to Indonesia.