Migrant Boat Sinks, 14 Missing; Malaysian Authorities Conduct Search and Rescue

KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 (CNA) – A boat believed to be carrying undocumented Indonesian migrants sank yesterday off the west coast of Malaysia, with 14 people still missing, and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency has launched a search and rescue operation.

According to Reuters, Mohamad Shukri Khotob, director of the Perak Maritime Enforcement Agency, stated in a press release that a fisherman reported seeing distressed individuals drifting at sea off Pangkor Island early yesterday morning, prompting authorities to respond.

Mohamad noted that a local fishing boat rescued 23 Indonesians, including 7 women, who were then taken to the marine police jetty for registration and further investigation.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the sunken boat was carrying 37 people and departed from Kisaran, Indonesia, on May 9. The passengers' destinations included Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur and the northwestern city of Penang.

Accidents are frequent on the sea route between Indonesia and Malaysia, often involving overloaded boats carrying laborers seeking work in Malaysian plantations and factories.

Migrant rights activists estimate that 100,000 to 200,000 Indonesians risk these sea journeys to Malaysia annually, often recruited by trafficking syndicates and subsequently exploited upon arrival in Malaysia. (Compiler: Yang Chao-yen) 1150512

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