Search for Sunken Ship in Malaysia Halted; 23 Indonesians Safe, 16 Dead

The search for the sunken vessel in Malaysia has been halted, with 23 Indonesian nationals confirmed safe and 16 others reported dead. According to Heni Hamidah, Director of Indonesian Citizen Protection at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, initial reports from Malaysian authorities based on interviews with survivors suggested there were 37 passengers with 14 missing. However, during the field search operations, Malaysian SAR authorities discovered additional victims, bringing the total number of identified individuals to 39.

Of those found, 23 Indonesian survivors originate from various regions, including Aceh, Banten, Riau Islands, Lampung, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, Southeast Sulawesi, and North Sumatra. The Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur is currently coordinating with Malaysian authorities regarding the identification process and providing assistance to the survivors.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its appreciation to the Malaysian SAR authorities and Maritime Police for their efforts in the search and handling of the victims. The Embassy continues to work closely with Malaysian officials to facilitate the identification of the deceased and provide necessary consular services for the affected citizens and their families.

The search and rescue operation for the vessel, which was carrying dozens of Indonesian nationals in the waters of Pangkor Island, Malaysia, was officially ended after Malaysian SAR teams failed to find any additional victims in recent days. The vessel, which was reported to be carrying 37 undocumented passengers, sank in the waters of Perak state, Malaysia. The incident triggered a joint search operation lasting nearly a week.

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Perak announced that the search and rescue operation concluded on Saturday (16/5). This decision was made after no new discoveries were made within the search area. The MMEA Perak noted that the initial passenger count may have been inaccurate, stating that while early reports suggested 37 passengers, the final figure was revised following the discovery of more victims.