MMEA rescues 75 immigrants from sinking boat

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency today rescued 75 Indonesian immigrants from drowning at 2.8 nautical miles from Sungai Kurau, near Port Klang.

The wooden boat the immigrants were in was on the brink of sinking due to a leak near its engine section.

Selangor Maritime director Mohammad Rosli Kassim said the wooden boat measuring 8.8 metres was believed to have left Sungai Air Hitam near Pulau Carey at around 5am heading to Tanjung Balai, Indonesia.

“We detected the boat at around 7am. We were at the location providing assistance to a local fishing boat at that time.

“We got suspicious when we saw the wooden boat tilting to its side and moving slowly in the high tide. The boat was stopped and checks found 75 immigrants, including three children, were in the boat," he told a press conference in Port Klang today.

He said the immigrants detained comprised 49 men and 23 women aged between 20 and 52 years old and three children aged between one and seven years old.

Also arrested were three boat crew members, who were also Indonesian citizens.

He said investigation found that the immigrants mostly worked as labourers, cleaners and hotel workers.

Mohammad Rosli said the wooden boat, the size of a local Class A fishing boat, could only carry a maximum of five individuals.

“The modus operandi of the skipper is to bring back the immigrants to their home country. He was promised RM1,700 and will only get paid once they reached Indonesia.

“The wooden boat is suspected to have started leaking from the start and it worsened due to the overload. The boat sank right after all immigrants were safely moved to the maritime boat,” he said.

He also said an initial investigation found that the immigrants had paid RM800 per person to an agent to return to Indonesia to celebrate Hari Raya Aidiladha this weekend.

The authorities are currently looking for the agent who is believed to be an Indonesian residing in Malaysia.

Mohammad Rosli said all the immigrants arrested are being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.

- Bernama