Minister's pol sec thankful brother survives Dayang Topaz incident

MIRI, Oct 27 -- Lidam Assan, a political secretary to Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, has only praise for God on learning that his brother emerged safe and sound in the Dayang Topaz maritime incident today, which claimed two lives.

When contacted by Bernama, Lidam said he had spoken to his brother Dony Tanjong and was told that he and his colleagues had been taken to Miri.

“They have arrived and checked into a hotel,” he said.

Lidam said he was told that the offshore support vessel was stuck at the Baram B oil platform and could not get itself loose due to rough seas with waves as high as four metres.

“Thank you God for saving my brother Dony, who was involved in a ship accident at sea in Miri,” he wrote on his Facebook wall.

It was reported that a cable of the vessel broke, causing it to go out of control and hit the oil platform.

The captain of the vessel sent a mayday signal to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Putrajaya at about 6.45 am.

A vessel, Sapura Constructor, picked up the signal and promptly went to the scene, located 7.7 nautical miles from Kuala Baram, to help in the rescue.

According to a Petronas statement, there were 187 personnel on board at the time of the incident but 125 jumped overboard.

Commenting on updates on the search and rescue operation on the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Facebook page, Zullfiqqcar Jefery, who claimed to be a crew member of a vessel called Petra, apologised for not being able to save a Dayang Topaz crew who died in the incident.

He said he and crews of Grade One Mahjung 3 could save only 28 people but one died despite being given CPR for almost an hour.

“We were only able to help a bit amidst the strong waves, before the uniformed agencies arrived at the location as we are the nearest to the place of incident,” he wrote, adding that he was grateful for those saved.

Meanwhile, MMEA Maritime Search and Rescue Division acting director Komander (M) Dr Suzanna Razali Chan, in a statement, said two Malaysian crewmen died in the incident.

She said they were taken to Miri Airport in a Petronas helicopter at about 5.40 pm before being sent to Miri Hospital by the police for further action.

“173 out of the 185 victims who survived the incident have safely arrived at the Miri Port jetty while 12 Dayang Topaz crews remained on board the vessel to ensure its security,” she added.

She said all the victims would be swabbed for COVID-19 and placed under quarantine at an accommodation facility.

-- BERNAMA