Fourteen people have gone missing after a boat carrying Indonesian migrants sank off the western coast of Malaysia, a media report said on Tuesday.
The boat was believed to be carrying 37 undocumented Indonesian migrants when it sank on Monday, Reuters reported.
A fisherman alerted authorities after spotting bodies and survivors floating in waters near Pangkor Island. Perak state maritime director Mohamad Shukri Khotob said the incident was reported early Monday.
Initial investigations showed the boat had departed from Kisaran, Indonesia, on May 9. The passengers were reportedly heading to several destinations in Malaysia, including Kuala Lumpur and Penang Island.
Mohamad Shukri said a local fishing vessel rescued 23 Indonesians, including seven women. They were later taken to a marine police jetty for documentation and further investigation.
According to reports, maritime accidents frequently occur in waters between Indonesia and Malaysia, often involving overcrowded boats transporting migrant workers seeking jobs in Malaysian plantations and factories.
Migrant rights activists say between 100,000 and 200,000 Indonesians undertake the dangerous journey each year, with many recruited by human trafficking networks and later subjected to exploitation.
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