Malaysian maritime authorities are continuing search operations for 14 missing people after a boat believed to be carrying Indonesian irregular migrants sank off the country’s western coast.
The incident occurred near Pangkor Island in Perak state after a fisherman spotted people drifting at sea early Monday morning, prompting emergency rescue efforts.
Mohamad Shukri Khotob said search-and-rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the area following the alert.
Local reports stated that rescuers, assisted by fishermen in the area, managed to save 23 Indonesian nationals, including seven women.
According to preliminary investigations, the migrants departed from Indonesia’s Kisaran region on May 9 and were attempting to reach several destinations in Malaysia, including Penang, Terengganu, Selangor, and Kuala Lumpur, reportedly in search of work opportunities.
Authorities said the survivors were taken to the Kampung Acheh jetty before later being handed over to police for further investigation.
Officials believe the boat was carrying a total of 37 people when it sank.
“The identities of the remaining missing individuals have not yet been determined. Search operations are continuing,” Khotob said.
The maritime route between Indonesia and Malaysia has witnessed repeated migrant boat accidents in recent years, particularly involving overcrowded vessels transporting workers seeking jobs in plantations, factories, and the construction sector.
Rights groups estimate that between 100,000 and 200,000 Indonesians attempt to enter Malaysia annually through dangerous sea routes, with many reportedly falling victim to human trafficking networks and labor exploitation after arrival.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said coordination with relevant institutions is continuing in an effort to locate all missing individuals.
Indonesian authorities previously announced that 3,585 migrant workers were deported from Malaysia between January and July 2025, including 1,129 individuals repatriated under “Program M,” launched in November 2024 to return thousands of undocumented Indonesian migrants over a two-year period.(ILKHA)