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SEMPORNA: Nine men were rescued after their fishing boat leaked and nearly sank off Pulau Sebangkat on Saturday morning.

The boat was returning from a fishing trip when it was hit by waves, causing water to enter the vessel around 11.37am.

Six of the men jumped into the sea and clung to the boat to keep it afloat, while the remaining three attempted to plug the leak using their hands and clothing.

Semporna Civil Defence Force Lieutenant (PA) Mohd Hasran Jaafar said a rescue team was dispatched upon receiving a distress call via Mers999, arriving about an hour later.

All nine were safely transferred to the rescue boat with help from police and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, and brought to the Semporna District Operations Control Centre at 2.15pm with no injuries reported.