Published: Thursday June 4, 2009 MYT 5:00:00 PM
One drowns, 9 more missing in Tanjung Piai boat tragedy
JOHOR BARU: An illegal immigrant died and nine more are reported missing while 22 were saved when two boats carrying 32 Indonesians capsized off Tanjung Piai, near Pontian, Thursday.
Southern Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) operations director Captain Mohd Zubil Mat Som said MMEA were informed by the Tanjung Pelepas port control room at 7.45am that a ship, MV Sanne St John, had found a body floating about two nautical miles off Tanjung Piai.
"Acting on the information, two marine speed boats, Kilat 18 and Kilat 47, were deployed to conduct a search and rescue operation at 8.10am with assistance from the Marine Unit, Public Services Department and the Marine Department," he said in a statement Thursday.
Mohd Zubil said at 9.25am, MMEA were informed that six victims were rescued by two ships and a boat, about two nautical miles from Tanjung Piai, comprising a woman and five men.
At about 10.45am, MMEA were informed that another 16 victims were rescued by another ship about one nautical mile from Tanjung Piai, while Kilat 18 and Kilat 47 managed to fish out the floating dead body of a woman.
The two boats that capsized were believed to be heading to Indonesia carrying the illegal immigrants.
He added that the search and rescue operation to find the nine missing Indonesians would carry on while those rescued had been sent to the Kukup government clinic for a medical checkup.
Last month, a boat with about 30 people, all believed to be Indonesians trying to slip out of the country illegally, sank in the choppy waters off Pengerang while two children, seven adults (all from Pakistan) drowned in another boat tragedy in Teluk Ramunia, off Pengerang. - Bernama
News Poll
- Man posted doctored photos of Nik Aziz
- Heartbreaking wait for mum
- Sodomy II: Karpal claims judge lied (Updated)
- The world just got bigger
- Opposition leaders decry court’s ruling
- Weather warning for Perak, Selangor and Sabah
- Thumbs-up for Najib
- 5-0 for BN’s Zambry
- Saiful files report over death threat
- WWF: Orang asli being used
- 60 lose RM25mil in gold investment scam
- Canberra to set new skills list
- Sodomy II: Karpal claims judge lied (Updated)
- Weather warning for Perak, Selangor and Sabah
- MAS offers CNY bargains
- Heavy vehicle ban during CNY rush
- ‘Flashing candy’ a health hazard: Health Ministry
- Saiful files report over death threat
- Fleet card cloning ring busted with arrest of trio
- WWF: Orang asli being used
RSS
