Malaysian authorities have intensified search and rescue operations after a boat carrying undocumented migrants capsized off the country’s western coast, leaving 14 people missing.
According to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), 23 migrants were rescued by local fishermen after the vessel sank near Pangkor Island in Perak state. The survivors include 16 men and seven women.
Officials said the migrants had departed from Kisaran, Indonesia, on May 9 and were believed to be heading to various destinations across Malaysia, including Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Selangor and Terengganu.
The MMEA said multiple rescue teams, including marine police, navy personnel and local fishing crews, are involved in the operation. Authorities have also deployed patrol boats, a helicopter and surveillance aircraft to locate the missing passengers.
The agency was alerted to the incident after fishermen discovered survivors drifting in the waters early Monday morning.
Malaysia remains a major destination for migrant workers from across Asia, many of whom travel through illegal and dangerous sea routes organised by trafficking networks. Fatal maritime accidents involving undocumented migrants have become increasingly common in the region.
In one of the deadliest recent cases, dozens of migrants died in November 2025 when a boat overturned near the Thailand-Malaysia border.
Activists estimate that between 100,000 and 200,000 Indonesians attempt risky sea crossings to Malaysia every year in search of jobs and better living conditions.
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