JOHOR BARU — Search operations are ongoing for two Singaporeans who have been missing since Thursday (Aug 8) evening after they were believed to have drifted from a group of other Singaporeans while kayaking on the Endau waters in Mersing, Johor.

The missing Singaporeans have been identified by Malaysian media reports as Mr Tan Eng Soon, 52, and Mdm Puah Geok Tin, 64.

In a statement issued around 1pm on Saturday, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said the Singapore Consulate-General in Johor Baru has been "in close contact with the Malaysian authorities who are coordinating the ongoing search operations". "A team from our Consulate-General is currently on the ground to provide assistance and close support," MFA said.

Apart from supporting the search operations, MFA and the Consulate-General are providing consular assistance to the next-of-kin of the missing Singaporeans.

Mersing police acting chief ASP Mohd Nor Mohd Isa had told the Malaysian media that Mr Tan and Mdm Puah started kayaking from the Penyabong jetty in Mersing at 10am on Thursday. "At about 5.40pm, when they were in between Pulau Sri Buat, Pahang and Pulau Mertang in Endau waters, (they were) believed to have separated from the group due to turbulent sea and strong winds,” ASP Mohd Nor was quoted as saying in a statement.

He added that efforts to locate the pair by their friends failed and they subsequently lodged a police report at Rompin police station, Pahang at 10.30am on Friday. About five hours later, a search and rescue mission involving 13 personnel was activated. AGENCIES