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A HEAVILY overloaded and poorly maintained boat has been identified as the cause of last Thursday’s tragedy near the Malaysia–Thailand maritime border, in which a vessel carrying undocumented migrants capsized, killing at least seven people.
Langkawi District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Khairul Azhar Nuruddin said investigations revealed that the small boat broke apart and sank about one and a half hours after leaving a larger vessel in mid-sea.
“They came from Buthidaung, Myanmar. Initially, around 300 undocumented migrants were on board a large boat, and when it reached the Malaysia–Thailand border, about 70 of them were transferred onto a smaller vessel.
“Not long after, within about one and a half hours, the boat sank. There was no rain, only cloudy weather, and the sea was quite rough,” he told reporters at the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) jetty here today.
Khairul Azhar said preliminary investigations found that all those detained were ethnic Rohingya from Myanmar and Bangladesh. The group reportedly began their journey from Buthidaung about two weeks ago, aiming to enter Malaysia.
“Last Thursday, they were divided between two smaller boats — one carrying 70 people and the other 230. Both vessels then took separate routes, and the fate of the 230 migrants on the larger boat remains unknown,” he said.
Each individual reportedly paid 400,000 taka (about RM13,600) to an agent in Myanmar to secure a place on the boat journey to Malaysia.
“Based on MMEA checks, the smaller vessel carrying 70 people is believed to have broken apart and sunk near Thailand’s Tarutao Island,” he added.
As of 10.30am today, seven bodies had been recovered — six adult women and a young girl — while 13 survivors were rescued, comprising nine men and two women from Myanmar, and two men from Bangladesh.
“All survivors are in stable condition and have been placed in custody at the Langkawi District Police Headquarters for further investigation. One of the women’s bodies has been sent to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar, while the remaining six, including the child, are at the Forensic Unit of Sultanah Maliha Hospital here,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kedah and Perlis Maritime Director First Admiral Romli Mustafa said more bodies could surface near Langkawi due to prevailing sea currents.
“We are focusing search operations in the southern area of Tarutao Island, while Thai authorities are conducting searches in the north. I have been informed that the Thai security forces have also found six more bodies believed to be from the same incident.
“The search and rescue operation will continue for seven days, and if new leads emerge, we will extend it,” he said. - November 10, 2025