One killed in boat accident

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): One Indonesian died and another 11 were missing after their boat capsized in strong winds along Malaysia's narrow Straits of Malacca last week, officials said Saturday.

A survivor was rescued by a passing merchant ship, a spokesman for the Maritime Rescue and Coordination Center told AFP.

"We have alerted all vessels plying the straits to report to us on any citing of bodies," he said, adding the center had no information on whether the Indonesians were illegally making their way to Malaysia.

The Star newspaper cited marine police as saying that the Indonesians, aged between 20 and 40, were on their way here from Bengkalis, Sumatra, to look for work. Their boat encountered engine problems and sank after being hit by strong waves late on February 5, the daily reported. A merchant ship alerted police when it found one of the victims clinging on to pieces of wood nearly 17 hours after the incident.