Illegal migrant vessel sinks again in Malaysian waters

Kuala Lumpur (ANTARA) - A vessel carrying undocumented migrants (PATI) has once again sunk in Malaysian waters, suspected to be transporting foreign nationals including citizens from Bangladesh and Indonesia.

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency in Selangor, in a statement in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, reported that the vessel suffered a leak and sank last Saturday (16/5) at coordinates 2.1 nautical miles southwest of Sungai Apong, Sabak Bernam, Selangor.

The Director of Selangor Maritime, Maritime Captain Abdul Muhaimin bin Muhammad Salleh, stated that the Selangor Maritime Centre received an emergency call from the stranded crew on Saturday at approximately 4:45 am.

Subsequently, the Maritime Vessel (KM) Bagan Datuk and the Patrol Vessel 41 were immediately deployed to the scene for rescue operations.

“The Patrol Vessel 4ly, upon arriving at the location, found that the vessel had completely submerged by around 9:00 am. A total of 16 undocumented migrants were successfully rescued, while three others are still reported missing and search efforts are ongoing,” he said.

According to him, the 16 rescued victims consisted of 10 men, comprising two Bangladeshi nationals and eight Indonesian nationals, and six Indonesian women aged between 24 and 50.

All rescued victims had initially received assistance from a Malaysian fishing vessel before Malaysian Maritime officers arrived.

To support the rescue operation, the Selangor Maritime Enforcement Agency has established a search and rescue post at Jeti Kelong Paradise to serve as the operation’s coordination centre.

The search and rescue operation involves the Malaysian Maritime, the Marine Police Force (PPM), and the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), covering a search area of 236 square nautical miles.

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the sovereignty and security of Malaysian waters, as well as combating illegal activities, including migrant smuggling.

Previously, a vessel carrying undocumented migrants from Indonesia was also reported to have sunk in the waters of Perak, Malaysia. In the Perak incident, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency successfully located 39 Indonesian nationals, where 23 victims survived and 16 perished.