Kuantan: Four Indonesian fishermen crew members were rescued after their ship KM Samudra Jaya Kelautan sank in Malaysian waters while en route from Tarempa to Batam, Indonesia on Aug 2.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Pahang Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director First Admiral (Maritime) Mazlan Mat Rejab said that all the crew members, aged between 40 and 65, were rescued by a local fishing vessel (VNT) from Pahang that was passing through the incident area the day before yesterday.

He stated that the VNT subsequently transported all the victims to the Kuantan Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) Jetty at around 5.30 am on Aug 8. "The ship was reported to have faced turbulent sea conditions and strong waves that caused engine damage before drifting for six days and eventually sinking in Malaysian waters while on its voyage from Tarempa to Batam," he mentioned in a statement today.

In the meantime, he explained that the Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre (MRSC) in Kuantan received information regarding the loss of the fishing vessel from Natuna BASARNAS on Aug 4, before the official information about the incident was received around 8.30 pm on Aug 7.

Mazlan further noted that the four fishermen involved have been handed over to the Consulate of the Republic of Indonesia (KRI) today for further proceedings. He also conveyed appreciation to the local fishing community, particularly the VNT crew, for their prompt action and concern in assisting to rescue all the Indonesian crew members.