THE Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) found no evidence of a boat, carrying 10 illegal immigrants, sinking near Batu Puteh at 9.5 nautical miles, southeast of Tanjung Penyusop in Kota Tinggi.

Johor MMEA director First Admiral Nurul Hizam Zakaria said the Johor Baru Maritime Rescue Sub Centre received a report from an Indonesian national claiming the boat he was in together with nine others had sunk at 4am today.

Nurul Hizam said a search and rescue operation – Op Carilamat – was activated at 4.05am with a ship and patrol boat being deployed to the location. However, as at 7.30pm today, no evidence of a boat sinking was found.

The search covered an area of 68.69 sq km.

“In fact, the Singaporean and Indonesian authorities have not reported any incident of a boat sinking,” he said in a statement tonight.

Op Carilamat ended at 7.30pm, but enforcement patrols at sea will continue monitoring, he said.

Nurul Hizam at the same time said his team did not rule out the possibility that it was a prank call. He added that it was working with the Indonesian police and consulate to track down the individual who made the report. – Bernama, September 19, 2022.