Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today ordered for the deployment of all necessary assets to help in the search and rescue (SAR) operation for nine crew members on a boat owned by Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) ship KD Perdana, who were reported to have gone missing since Saturday.

The prime minister also wanted the operation to be empowered and the search area, expanded.

"I pray for all the nine crew members to be found safe and in good health, immediately," he said in his latest Facebook and Twitter updates.

Najib also thanked the fishermen who participated in the operation.

The RMN in a statement here today said that the KD Perdana had lost contact with their Boarding Team, during an operation against illegal fishermen in the waters of Tanjung Sedili last Saturday.

The statement said an officer and eight personnel were on board the boat which was on a routine patrol to drive out foreign fishing boats from the area.

-- BERNAMA