Angler missing after boat sinks

KOTA TINGGI: An angler is missing after the boat his group was on sank off Tanjung Sedili waters, about 13 nautical miles near here, while eight others hung on for seven hours before they were rescued.

Tanjung Sedili Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency director Amran Daud said initial investigation showed that the stern tube of the boat leaked at about 4am yesterday before it gradually sank into the South China Sea.

“Eight of the anglers had to hold on to the buoys and fishing boxes until they were rescued by a passing fishing boat some seven hours later,” Amran said in a statement yesterday.

Missing is Mohd Nor Kelewon, 31, from Simpang Renggam, about 130km from here.

Those rescued, who are also from Simpang Renggam, were Mohd Firdaus Hussin, 28, Sadri Baharuddin, 26, Sharizal Mahat, 28, Rosita Sakarudin, 30, Andriko Nasrul, 34, and Ishak Bidin, 54.

Two others could not be identified at press time.

Meanwhile in another incident, a punter was hit with a RM2,000 fine, in default two months’ jail, for breaking a glass counter with a motorcycle helmet at a 4D shop.

Van driver Kok Chan Fong, 36, pleaded guilty to causing mischief and damage to property at the 4D outlet in Jalan Gasing here at about 8.30am on Wednesday.

His lawyer Datuk Suraj Singh pleaded to magistrate Zaki Asraf Zubir for a reasonable sentence for the first-time offender.

“My client also did not profit from the offence,” he said, adding that Kok only earns RM900 a month and his wife was not working.

The accused was charged under Section 427 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to five years, a fine or both.

DPP Siti Rohaya Tajuddin prosecuted.