The authorities continue to search for a 60-year-old man who fell overboard from a cruise ship in waters off Malacca on Sunday.

Mr Wuan Poh Fatt was reportedly travelling from Singapore to Penang with five others, and is believed to have fallen into the sea off Tanjung Kling, just north of the central Malaysian state.

This took place at 11.05pm on Sunday, according to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

Investigations show Mr Wuan was missing after a headcount. He did not respond to announcements shortly before the ship docked in Georgetown, Penang, on Monday, the New Straits Times reported.

Onboard closed-circuit camera footage confirmed that a person fell overboard at 11.05pm. The ship was somewhere between 9.5 nautical miles off Pulau Besar and 12 nautical miles off Tanjung Kling at the time.

A search with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority shows Mr Wuan is a director of two companies dealing mainly in plumbing, heating and air-conditioning.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said in response to queries that it is providing consular assistance to the family.

She added: "The Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur is in contact with local authorities regarding this incident."

A Star Cruises spokesman said it is extending "full support and assistance" to Mr Wuan's family in this time of difficulty.

She added that the company will "continue to work closely and coordinate with the local authorities on the investigation of the reported incident".

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said search and rescue operations are ongoing.

When approached at their home yesterday, Mr Wuan's family declined to comment on the matter.