After their boat lost power and capsized near Kuala Sungai Pinang west of Penang island, the two men had to endure six days of hunger and despair, resorting to makeshift survival tactics to stay alive before being rescued by Indonesian fishermen near Aceh.

The pair initially relied on food brought from home, but this ran out by the second day. They said hope waned as they drifted further from Malaysian waters.

“We ate raw temenung and cencaru fish and drank seawater from the fourth day. It was hard to keep down, but we had no choice,” Ikmal told reporters at a press conference with the police and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) at the Batu Maung shipyard.

“On the second and third days, we fasted in the hope that someone would come to rescue us, as we had already informed our employer and family about the incident.”

Hasrul said there was a glimmer of hope once when he spotted a cargo ship, but their calls for help failed to get the ship’s attention.

Finally, on their sixth day adrift, fishermen from Aceh spotted and rescued them. “When they pulled us aboard, it felt like I was born again,” Ikmal said.

MMEA brought the duo back home aboard the KM Burau, where they were reunited with their families.

Hasrul said he was used to braving stormy weather as a fisherman, but this time around, it was different. However, the ordeal has not deterred him from continuing in his vocation.

“Despite this, I still love my job as a fisherman,” he added.

Authorities called off the search-and-rescue operation for the pair on Saturday after finding no leads on their whereabouts.

Barat Daya police chief Sazalee Adam said the duo, who had drifted nearly 60 nautical miles from where they initially were, would be treated at Balik Pulau Hospital.