JAKARTA, Feb 15 — The search operations by Indonesian authorities for a Malaysian army commando who is feared to have drowned at the waters of Pulau Undan at the Straits of Melaka last week has been called off Tuesday (February 14).
Pekanbaru National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) decided this after no clues as to the whereabout of the missing personnel were found since being alerted by their counterpart in Malaysia that he could have drifted into Indonesian waters.
“We were not able to trace him after almost a seven-day search,” a local news portal, Riau Online, quoted its head I Nyoman Sidakarya as saying.
However, Pekanbaru Basarnas is still closely monitoring its area and the search operation will resume if new clues appear, he said.
Lance Corporal Edrin Baintim, 25, attached to the Grup Gerak Khas was reported missing on February 7 while undergoing dive training at 0.7 nautical miles southwest of Pulau Undan at 5.15pm.
Putrajaya Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre had sought assistance from Basarnas because there was a possibility that the victim could have been swept into Indonesian waters.
— Bernama
