JAKARTA - Malaysia’s media fraternity has expressed solidarity with its Indonesian counterparts as the search and rescue (SAR) operation continues to locate five media personnel who went missing while covering the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait.
President of the Malaysian-Indonesian Jouranalists’ Association (Iswami Malaysia) Datuk Ahmad Zaini Kamaruzzaman said the country’s media fraternity sympathised with their Indonesian counterparts and hoped that the five media personnel and three boat crew members accompanying them would be found safe.
"Iswami is closely monitoring developments in the SAR mission. Our prayers and thoughts are with the five media colleagues and the three boat crew members accompanying them,” he told Bernama on Friday.
The five media personnel are Muhammad Bagus Khoirunnas from Indonesia’s national news agency Antara, Arie Basuki (Merdeka.com), Yudistiro Pranoto (iNews), Firdaus Wajidi (Anadolu Agency) and freelance journalist Donal Husni.
They have been out of contact since Monday while covering the eruption of Anak Krakatau around Sebesi Island, Lampung. They were accompanied by three boat crew members in the Sunda Strait, which is located between the islands of Java and Sumatra.
Zaini also commended the commitment of the Indonesian authorities, including the Indonesian Navy, which has deployed assets in the search operation, while expressing hope that the efforts would be intensified until all of them are found safe.
He said the incident also served as a reminder of the high risks faced by media personnel when covering disasters, underscoring the importance of strict safety protocols for those working in hazardous areas.
Meanwhile, Bernama correspondent in Indonesia Nik Nurfaqih Nik Wil also personally conveyed his sympathies to Antara President Director Benny Butarbutar over the disappearance of one of the news agency’s personnel, expressing hope that the SAR operation would proceed smoothly and all those missing would be found safe.
Benny expressed his appreciation for the concern and said the SAR operation was still ongoing, with Antara also closely monitoring developments in the search operation on the ground.
Meanwhile, the Press, Media and Information Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat (BPMI Setpres), in a statement, said Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto had instructed the Indonesian Navy to immediately launch a search after receiving a report on Monday night that the group had lost contact.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said Prabowo had instructed the Chief of Naval Staff to immediately mobilise assets, with 11 combined vessels deployed in the search operation as of Thursday, including three Indonesian Navy warships - KRI Leuser-924, KRI Kerambit-627 and KRI Lepu-861. - BERNAMA