Body Found Off Hutan Melintang Confirmed as Missing Angler, Search Continues for Two Others

SHAH ALAM, Sept 16 — Police have confirmed that the body of a man found floating in the waters off Hutan Melintang, Perak, this morning belongs to one of three anglers missing since their boat capsized on Monday.

Klang Utara Police Chief ACP Ramsay Embol stated that the deceased was identified as 43-year-old Mohd Sharil Abd Rahman following formal identification by his next-of-kin.

The search and rescue (SAR) team was alerted by local fishermen who spotted the body at around 8:30 am, after which officers from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) retrieved and transported the remains to the Hutan Melintang Jetty.

“The body will subsequently be sent to Shah Alam Hospital for further procedures,” Ramsay said in a statement today, adding that joint SAR operations involving the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), MMEA, Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), and Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) remain ongoing to locate the two remaining victims.

Earlier today, Klang Utara Deputy Police Chief Supt Mohd Rahimi Zainol reported that the body was spotted off Bagan Sungai Belukang, Perak, wearing a life jacket and tied to a drum. According to surviving crew members, all victims had tied themselves to flotation drums after their vessel capsized near One Fathom Bank in the Straits of Malacca on Monday.

The multi-agency search began after seven anglers went missing. Four survivors—identified as Mohd Shairazi Abdul Aziz, 43; Mohd Rizal Mohamad Sadali, 45; Muhd Hamiszar Punirain, 45; and boat skipper Zulfikalnain Awang, 47—were rescued in Sekinchan waters on Tuesday and transferred for medical treatment at Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) and Banting Hospital.

Authorities are continuing search operations for the remaining two missing anglers, identified as Muhamad Ridzuan Ruhaizat, 37, and Raja Mohd Rozi Raja Mohamad, 49.

–NMT