Malaysian, three foreigners missing off north Sabah coast

KOTA KINABALU — Alarm bells are ringing after a Malaysian and three tourists went missing on Tuesday evening (May 3) while on a boat trip between Sabah’s northern Balambangan Island and Tanjung Simpang Mengayau at the tip of the Borneo island.

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) for Sabah and Labuan regional director First Admiral Mohd Zubil Mat Som said the quartet comprised a Malaysian woman known only as Ella and two Spaniards and a Chinese national.

The boat owner raised the alarm on Tuesday morning after his vessel, which left Kampung Batu Sireh on Balambangan Island in the Banggi district at 5.30pm, failed to return to Simpang Mengayau as expected at 8pm.

“We think it is possible that the boat had sustained some damage from bad weather at sea and has gone adrift,” Mr Mohd Zubil said in a statement tonight.

“We have launched a search-and-rescue operation as of 2.20pm comprising marine vessels from the MMEA, the Malaysian navy and marine police to search for the missing boat,” he added.

The MMEA official said there has been no indication of an abduction attempt so far.

The missing tourists are believed to be Tommy Lam Wai Yin from China and David Hernades Gasulla and Martha Miguel from Spain.

Balambangan Island is a lesser known island just 10km away from Pulau Banggi, the largest island in Malaysia, and home to several limestone caves. MALAY MAIL ONLINE