Missing boat was fine day before, says skipper’s wife

SUNGAI PETANI: The fishing boat that went missing with seven men on board near Kuala Sala here was working fine on Saturday.

But on Sunday, skipper Kharul Anuar Arshad, 39, and six anglers went missing some 26km from shore, west of the jetty they left.

Zuroltulain Ishak, 33, said her husband Kharul brought anglers out on fishing trips multiple times a week.

“On Saturday, Kharul took a group of anglers, and they returned with no trouble.

“But on Sunday evening on his way back, he called a friend to tow his boat, saying the engine failed.

“He provided a GPS location, but the boat was nowhere to be found when his friend arrived.

“By then, it was already dark and the other boats had already left,” Zuroltulain said at the jetty where an operation base was set up for the search and rescue effort yesterday.

Zuroltulain was accompanied by her daughter and two sons, aged two to 12 years old, as they waited anxiously for Kharul to return.

Of the six anglers, only Mohd Ramli, 57, from Taman Selasih, Kulim was identified. His family lodged a police report of him missing.

Kedah Maritime Enforcement Agency operations deputy director Lt Hairilizhar Noraazmi said the search yielded no result and was halted at 7pm.

“Two boats – the Pengalang 35 and Kilat 7 – were deployed, assisted by a CL 415 Bombardier aircraft.

“We searched an area of 62sq km but found no sign of the boat.

“With the current wind conditions, we expect the boat to have drifted southward towards Penang,” he said, adding that the weather was clear throughout the day.

Later in the evening it started to drizzle with strong winds.

The rescue operation will resume at 7am today.