Wife Of Husband Feared Drowned While Fishing, Remains Hopeful Of His Return

TUMPAT, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Despite spending four sleepless nights without any positive news, Che Bunga Yaakob, 55, is still holding on to hope that her husband, Ahmad Hussin, 71, who is feared to have drowned after going out fishing alone in the waters off Tumpat last Sunday, will return home.

Despite the search and rescue operation (Op Carilamat) entering its fourth day, Che Bunga is confident her husband is still alive, and even her children feel his presence.

“I hope a miracle happens. I have dreamed of him returning home for two consecutive nights. Last night, he was smiling, and the night before, he said he was having fun traveling far. Every time I wake up, all I can do is pray and ask for forgiveness, hoping he will be found soon,” she told Bernama at Pantai Geting today.

Ahmad, a father of seven with 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, was reported to have left on his fiberglass boat from Tanjung Kuala Jetty at 7:30 am last Sunday to fish for threadfin bream and trevally.

He usually returns by noon but failed to do so on that Sunday.

Che Bunga said that before the incident, her husband's behaviour had changed. He was quieter, coughed and had shortness of breath more often, and gave instructions about their livestock.

“He told me to bring out four cows from the barn and provide a bundle of grass for them to eat. He said he would be back late because he was going out fishing. I didn't think it would be his last message,” she said.

Che Bunga said that the villagers and family members have been holding 'solat hajat' prayers and 'Yasin' recitations since the first day of the search while her children and in-laws have also gathered at Pantai Geting, waiting for updates on the operation.

She added that heavy rain and thunderstorm on the day of the incident is believed to have hampered search efforts while there was also concerns that his small boat may have run out of fuel.

Yesterday, the Kelantan Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) expanded the search and rescue operation for the elderly man, who has been missing since last Sunday, to cover an area of 412.15 square nautical miles in the state's waters.

The search and rescue operation, conducted in the waters from Pengkalan Kubur to Kuala Besar, is using several boats and a helicopter.

-- BERNAMA