Balik Pulau fishermen to look out for signs of missing plane

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BALIK PULAU-SOME 2,500 fishermen in Balik Pulau will assist the search-and rescue efforts for the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH370 by looking out for any traces of the missing plane while out fishing at sea.

Balik Pulau Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said the fishermen involved are from Kuala Sungai Pinang, Kuala Jalan Baru, Kuala Sungai Burung dan Pulau Betong and Teluk Kumbar.

“Every morning about 200 to 300 fishermen will go out to sea on a rotation basis and will survey the area for any signs besides catching fish,” he told reporters after presenting the 1Malaysia Book vouchers to 400 students of Balik Pulau MARA High Skill College yesterday.

Flight MH370, which was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew, disappeared from radar while enroute to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur one hour after departing Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 12.41am last Saturday.

Meanwhile Dr Hilmi, who is also Deputy Health Minister, said his ministry was currently focusing on the development of rural clinics, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, which still lacked such facilities.

The upgrading and development of rural clinics were needed in view of the increasing number of patients besides the growing public confidence in the services provided by government clinics and hospitals, he said.