Day: January 16, 2023

KOTA KINABALU, Jan 16 (Bernama) — “Sis, these days we sleep with life jackets on,” Derrent Littor, 22, a crew member of the missing cargo ship MV Dai Cat 06, told his 28-year-old sister Lyli.

Lyli said her younger brother, who had been working on the ship since Oct 28 last year, expressed concern after the cargo was loaded.

The family wondered what had happened to the youngest of the six siblings and the ship, which had been missing since Jan 9.

Lyli and her family urged the ship owner, the agent, and the cargo owner to come forward to explain the vessel’s fate to them and the authorities, besides cooperating in the search for the vessel.

“Authorities like the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and the Marine Department had provided information (to the family) but the ship owner, agent, and cargo owner would not cooperate when we contacted them.

“I appeal to you to pay attention to this search operation and cooperate with all parties because the lives of five people whose families are waiting for their return are at stake,” she told a press conference in Kampung Melawa today.

On Jan 9, the Malaysian-registered cargo vessel, carrying 527 pipes, valued at RM726,205, was reported missing in Indonesian waters, and a police report was lodged by the ship’s agent on the same day.

Besides Derrent, the other two missing Malaysian crew members are senior officer Mohammad Syafarizan Mohd Noor, 24; sailor, Mohammad Sudeh Sudin, 20; ship master identified as Adi, 43, and chief engineer Damai Papane Ole, 57, both Indonesians.

Lyli said the last time she was able to contact her brother was on Jan 1, when the ship was near Singapore.

“At 1.45 pm, he told me that he had bought a roaming line in Singapore, and at 2 pm, we made a video call, but after that, at 5 pm, I sent a message, but there was no reply. I tried to call his number until today, but there was no answer,” she said.

She said Derrent had expressed some concerns about the ship but continued his duties to fulfil his contract with the company, which expires in April this year.

Derrent’s other sister, Sandra, 32, said the family hoped that no matter what happens, their brother will return home safely.

She said what worries them now is that the ship is said to be in a bad condition, especially its electrical system and water pump.

“Derrent took this job to pursue his career as a seaman and wanted to gain experience. I ask everyone not to ignore this case but to look into it and help bring this crew home,” she added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA KINABALU, Jan 15 (Bernama) — Queen Elizabeth 2 Hospital (HQE 2) in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has successfully performed brain surgery on a fully conscious patient on Thursday (Jan 12).

Sabah Health director Datuk Dr Rose Nani Mudin said the first ‘awake craniotomy’ in the state was carried out at the hospital here.

She said the medical team comprised HQE 2 neurosurgeons Dr M Sofan Zenian and Dr Hezry Abu Hasan together with UMS neurosurgical anaesthesiologist Dr Yeap Boon Tat and Sungai Buloh Hospital senior consultant neurosurgeon Dr Liew Boon Seng.

“Preparations and close discussions between HQE 2, Duchess of Kent (HDOK) Hospital, Sandakan and UMS have started since Nov 2022.

“The patient is a 50-year-old woman who has been experiencing headaches since Oct 2022 and was diagnosed with ‘multiple meningioma’ on the left side of her brain,” she said in a statement today.

The decision to perform brain surgery using the ‘awake craniotomy’ technique aims to help the patient to live a better quality of life, Rose Nani added.

Awake craniotomy was introduced in the early 2000s. In Malaysia, it started as early as 2010 at Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital, Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Sungai Buloh Hospital and Sultanah Aminah Hospital.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUANTAN, Jan 16 (Bernama) — The elephant that caused the death of an Orang Asli teenager in Pos Sinderut, Lipis, last week, is believed to have returned to its habitat in the Ulu Jelai Forest Reserve.

The Pahang Wildlife Protection and National Parks Department, in a statement today, said this is based on the results of observations made by the team tasked with capturing the elephant.

The team began its operation last Jan 10, a day after the elephant attack, with the involvement of 16 staff from the department and the National Elephant Conservation Center (PKGK) in Kuala Gandah, Temerloh.

“The result of the observations on Jan 12 found that the elephant had crossed Jalan Sungai Koyan-Cameron Highlands and returned to the Ulu Jelai Forest Reserve,” it said, adding that the department would continue to track down the elephant until Jan 19.

According to the department, it will also continue to work with the Orang Asli Affairs Department (JAKOA) to enhance understanding and awareness on safety measures when in conflict with wild animals among the Orang Asli community.

It said any complaints and information on wildlife can be channelled to the nearest PERHILITAN Office or hotline 1-800-88-5151 or the website www.wildlife.gov.my.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency