KUCHING: Family members of the four anglers and a boat skipper who have been missing since October 1, want the authorities to reinstate the search operations for the missing persons.
The family members expressed their concerns for boatman Khamizan Saidi, 40 and anglers Ng Ching Hui, 36; Christopher Teo, 32; Yap Tze Kang, 41; and Leody Lee Jiann Tarn, 35, whose whereabouts are still unknown since embarking on an unfortunate fishing trip in the waters of Karang Berumput and Tukun Bass on October 1.
“We are still brokenhearted and in need of our government to support and guide us to search for them again.
“It is understood that there were no signs of the boat anywhere but we, as their family, still hope that they are out there somewhere. We must rescue them.
“We are also very curious now, maybe since there were no signs of these missing people, there are possibilities that they may have been kidnapped and so on,” said Vicky Lim, mother of missing angler Leody Lee who represented the other family members during a press conference held at Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Padungan Branch office, here on Wednesday (Oct 20).
She also requested for the state government to contact the neighbouring country to assist in the search for the missing men on the possibility of them being stuck there and unable to return home.
Despite the initial seven-day search from October 3 to 9 coming up empty handed, Lim thanked the search party for their relentless efforts in locating the five men.
“Our family truly appreciates the efforts put in by the agencies involved as well as the maritime community in the search of our missing family members,” she commended.
SUPP Padungan branch chairperson Datuk Lily Yong in endorsing the appeal, said it was not within the family members’ means to find the missing persons themselves due to financial constraints and facilities required to embark in an open sea search.
“Although we are ready for either good or bad news, we are still expecting something to be done.
“We know that the golden hour has passed, we understand that. But we also request villagers in coastal areas to be on the lookout for the missing persons if they happen to go out fishing,” she added.
On suspicion of the missing men being stuck in a neighbouring country, Yong said it was high time for the government to step in to coordinate their return to the country.
“We just want to see them come back and that’s it. The family cannot afford to go on for much longer without any news of them,” Yong stressed.
