MERSING, 7 April — The Johor government will inform embassies concerned on the status of the search and rescue (SAR) operation for four foreign divers who were reported missing in Pulau Tokong Sanggol, here, from time to time, said Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.

He said the Ops Carilamat was halted at 7.30 pm yesterday due to poor visibility and resumed at 7 am today, involving a total of 90 members and officers from various agencies ,including 30 divers and 18 assets.

The menteri besar also expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar for His Majesty’s generosity in lending two boats for the SAR operation.

 “We will keep them (embassies) informed. To the families who are affected by tragedy, we are doing whatever we can to find them, and will do our best to find them as soon as possible,” he told reporters at the Pangkalan Hadapan Carilamat Mersing Jetty here today.

Onn Hafiz said the search now  covered as area of 107 nautical mile radius.

The Menteri Besar said the agencies involved in the SAR operation, comprising the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM), Special Service Group at Iskandar Mersing Camp, Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defence Force and Fisheries Department, were now working hard to ensure all  four victims could be found as soon as possible.

When asked whether diving activities for tourists would be haled following the incident, Onn Hafiz said the Mersing District Office would review the existing standard operating procedures and look into appropriate safety measures to prevent such incidents from happening again.

In the incident at noon yesterday, four foreign divers were reported missing in the waters of Pulau Tokong Sanggol, about nine nautical miles from Tanjung Leman, here.

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