PUBLISHED ONFebruary 06, 2026 11:46 AMUPDATEDFebruary 10, 2026 2:15 PMBYEsther LamA search and rescue operation for a missing 54-year-old Malaysian fisherman has been suspended after a body was found in Singapore waters.
The body was found on Wednesday (Feb 4) at about 9.27am, said Mohd Najib Sam of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency in a statement on Thursday (Feb 5).
Local media previously reported that a Malaysian fisherman, identified as Mustaffa Hussain, went missing after he was involved in a boat collision on Sunday at about 10pm in the waters off Pengerang, Johor.
Preliminary investigations found that a fibreglass fishing boat, which was used by the victim and a 32-year-old Indonesian worker, capsized after being struck by another boat.
Najib, who is acting director of the Tanjung Sedili Maritime Zone, said that as of Wednesday (Feb 4), the search operation had covered over 60 square nautical miles and involved various agencies including the police, the fire and rescue department, the Pengerang Fishermen Association and the public, among others.
The 32-year-old Indonesian was found clinging to a piece of the boat and rescued by the Pengerang marine police.
Najib said the search operation has been postponed until the body found in Singapore can be identified by the victim's next of kin.
If the body is not the missing fisherman, the search operation will resume, he added.
In reply to queries by AsiaOne, the Singapore police on Feb 10 said that they were alerted to a case of drowning case at about 9.10am on Feb 4.
"The body of a 54-year-old man was subsequently found and retrieved from the waters. The man was pronounced dead at scene.
"Preliminary investigations do not suspect foul play. Police investigations are ongoing."
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