KUCHING: Only one of the six fishermen who went adrift at sea after their boat capsized in the waters off Tanjung Sipang, Santubong, on Dec 17 remains missing.
Kuching district police chief, Assistant Commissioner Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah, said the fifth victim was rescued by a vessel near Tanjung Po, Muara Tebas, yesterday.
However, he said the victim was immediately taken by the crew of the vessel to Sibu at around 3pm yesterday.
"After confirmation with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency today, the victim was identified as Thy Ny, a Cambodian national, and one of the fishermen involved in the boat capsize incident off Tanjung Sipang, Santubong.
"The victim was then handed over to the Sibu Marine Police Force (PPM) and then brought to the Sibu District Police Headquarters (IPD) before being taken to Sibu Hospital for medical treatment. He will later be sent to Kuching for further action," he said.
Three other victims, identified as Khlok Sem from Cambodia, and Adikah and Irman from Indonesia, were rescued by another local fishing boat 3.5 nautical miles west of Pulau Burong yesterday, seven days after their boat capsized. They were brought to the Kampung Goebilt Jetty in Kuching at about 6pm yesterday.
The search and rescue operation continued today, successfully locating another survivor, Oeun Van, 37, who was found safe in the Sungai Serpan Laut area of Asajaya by local fishermen at around 3.30am in Asajaya waters.
With the confirmation of the fifth victim, the operation now focuses on finding the remaining missing victim, identified as Chaloem Sonada, a Thai national.