Stranded Ship Crew Member Seeks Rest and New Job After Traumatic UAE Ordeal

Mohamad Luqman Yahaya, a crew member of the MV Berkat Tuah, described his experience of being stranded for nearly a year in the United Arab Emirates as traumatic. The 31-year-old, who hails from Felda Kerteh 5, Ketengah Jaya, Kemaman, Malaysia, said his first overseas work experience left him with bitter memories.

He expressed a desire to return to his family and rest before considering future plans. "I will go back to my village this afternoon or tomorrow and want to rest first before looking for a new job," Luqman told Utusan Malaysia. He added that he needs time to find a new company and renew his expired certificates.

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I will go back to my village this afternoon or tomorrow and want to rest first before looking for a new job.

Luqman, the ninth of ten siblings, noted that his previous contracts as a ship's crew typically lasted no more than three months. The recent incident, however, provided an unforgettable experience. "It felt like a dream when I arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport yesterday afternoon," he said.

Moving forward, Luqman stated he will be more cautious when selecting new employers to prevent similar incidents. He also expressed hope that the issue of nearly six months of unpaid wages would be resolved promptly. The report mentioned that five crew members of the MV Berkat Tuah were stranded for almost a year in UAE waters with accumulated salary arrears. Besides Luqman, the other crew members are Mark Martin, Mohd. Shah Rizan Rahman, Mohd. Fariduddin Muhamad Jainudin, and captain Hendi Irawan. Their safe return to Malaysia was facilitated by the Malaysian Consulate General in Dubai, the Malaysian Marine Department, and Sharjah authorities.

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It felt like a dream when I arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport yesterday afternoon.