STAR officers of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency arms with Heckler & Koch HK416 rifles in the patrol boat during the 65th Merdeka Day in Kuala Lumpur. (Wikimedia)
On May 11, a boat carrying 37 undocumented migrants from Indonesia sank near Pangkor Island while travelling towards several destinations in Malaysia. As of May 15, search and rescue teams had recovered 11 bodies about 5.6 nautical miles from the island.
Initial investigations found that the migrants had departed from Kisaran, Indonesia, on May 9. They were reportedly heading to several locations across Malaysia, including Penang, Terengganu, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.
According to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), the accident was first reported by a local fisherman. The fisherman spotted several survivors floating in the sea and alerted the authorities, prompting an immediate rescue response. A total of 23 survivors have since been rescued.
Search and rescue teams have since been working to locate the remaining victims. Authorities said that three people are still missing. Boats, a helicopter and surveillance aircraft have been deployed to widen the search area as efforts continue to find the missing individuals.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns over irregular migration routes across the Strait of Malacca, which are often used by migrants attempting to enter Malaysia by sea.
A similar case was reported in April, when Malaysian authorities stopped 25 undocumented migrants from Myanmar who were trying to enter the country illegally by boat. Officials said such operations remain part of broader efforts to control illegal maritime crossings and improve border security in the region.
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