{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1746306,
        "msgid": "malaysia-ends-indonesia-migrant-boat-search-16-bodies-recovered-1780912230",
        "date": "2026-05-18 15:00:00",
        "title": "Malaysia ends Indonesia migrant boat search, 16 bodies recovered",
        "author": "",
        "source": "CNA",
        "tags": "Asia",
        "topic": "Social Policy",
        "summary": "The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency has concluded its search for a migrant vessel from Indonesia that sank off the coast of Pangkor island. While 23 Indonesian survivors were rescued, the bodies of 16 missing passengers have been recovered, highlighting the ongoing dangers of human trafficking routes in the region.",
        "content": "<p>Malaysia ends Indonesia migrant boat search, 16 bodies recovered<\/p>\n<p>The migrants were trying to reach several destinations in Malaysia,\nincluding Penang, Terengganu, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur for work.<\/p>\n<p>KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia said on Monday (May 18) it had ended a search\nfor passengers of a migrant boat from Indonesia that sank off the\ncountry\u2019s western coast last week after the bodies of all 16 missing\nwere recovered.<\/p>\n<p>The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in Perak state said\n23 people were rescued after the vessel sank off Pangkor island west of\npeninsular Malaysia on May 11.<\/p>\n<p>Perak MMEA director Mohamad Shukri Khotob told AFP that the search\nwas called off on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s the standard (procedure) for us to carry out search and rescue\nmission for six days. We ended the search at 7pm on Saturday after there\nwere no new discoveries in the area,\u201d Mohamad Shukri said by telephone\non Monday.<\/p>\n<p>He said all 23 survivors were Indonesian but he was unsure if the 16\ndead were all their compatriots.<\/p>\n<p>The migrants were trying to reach several destinations in Malaysia,\nincluding Penang, Terengganu, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur for work.<\/p>\n<p>Mohamad Shukri said initial information from survivors that there\nwere 37 people on board was inaccurate, as those rescued and the body\ncount totalled 39.<\/p>\n<p>Aside from the MMEA, the search mission also involved the Royal\nMalaysian Navy, the Marine Police Force and local fisherfolk.<\/p>\n<p>Relatively affluent Malaysia is home to millions of migrants from\npoorer parts of Asia, many of them undocumented, working in industries\nincluding construction and agriculture.<\/p>\n<p>But the crossings, facilitated by human trafficking syndicates, are\noften hazardous, leading to boats capsizing.<\/p>\n<p>In one of the deadliest recent incidents, 36 migrants died in\nNovember 2025 after their boat capsized near the Thai-Malaysian\ncoast.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/malaysia-ends-indonesia-migrant-boat-search-16-bodies-recovered-1780912230",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}