32 still missing at sea

Search and Rescue (SAR) operation had to be called off at midnight because of bad weather.

JOHOR BARU: Thirty-two of 40 Indonesian illegal immigrants returning by boat to Batam to celebrate  Aidilfitri are still missing after it sank in waters between Sedeli and Penawar near Tanjung Siang, Kota Tinggi here last night.

Kota Tinggi police chief Supt Mohd Nor Rashid said four more victims have been rescued by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), bringing the number of survivors to eight as of midnight tonight.

He said the Search and Rescue (SAR) operation mounted by MMEA, the Marine Department and the Marine Operations Force (MOF) also had to be stopped at midnight because of bad weather and would resume by 8am today.

He also said all police stations along the shoreline had been alerted to be on the lookout for more victims.

The incident only came to light about 4pm yesterday when a group of fishermen found three of the survivors clinging on to a plastic drum before rescuing them.

The fourth survivor was earlier rescued by a MMEA patrol boat passing in the area.

It is learnt the boat had left Tanjung Siang late yesterday evening and sank after being hit by strong waves around midnight.

-Bernama