KOTA KINABALU: A group of anglers and their crew have been reported missing while fishing in waters off Mantanani island some 86km from here.

The nine anglers and three crew members had gone out to sea on Dec 10 via the Kota Kinabalu jetty and were scheduled to return at 2pm, Monday.

However, the boat owner Leonard Lee received a call from the skipper, Handry Rajja at about 1.07pm Sunday, saying that the boat’s gear was not functioning and that they were stranded.

Sabah and Labuan Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director First Admiral Mohd Zubil Mat Som said a search and rescue operation was immediately mounted after receiving a report on the incident a day later.

He added that the last known location of the boat was about 21 nautical miles northwest from Mantanani island.

“We have lost contact with the boat and crew and are awaiting for air support from the police air unit,” he said.

He said alerts have been issued to all other maritime communities in the area so that they could keep an eye on the missing boat.-thestar